EXCHANGE 


XV 

rj 


BOSTON. 


ALL     PRINTERS 


CONDUCTORS    OF    THE    NEWSPAPER    PRESS, 

WHO   ENTERTAIN 
A   TRUE    REGARD    FOR    THE    DIGNITY    OF    THEIR    PROFESSION, 

AND   A 
DISPOSITION   TO   RENDER   IT   A   BLESSING   TO   HUMANITY 

AS   WELL   AS 
A    SOURCE    OF    PROFIT    TO    THEMSELVES, 

THESE    VOLUMES 

ARE 
RESPECTFULLY  AND  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED. 


FRIEND    AND    FELLOW-LABORER, 

J.   T.  B. 


PREFACE. 


THE  nature  of  the  contents  of  these  volumes  is  so  dis 
tinctly  described  in  the  title-page,  that  a  preface  may  be 
thought  rather  superfluous  than  needful.  It  is  not  my 
purpose  to  forestall  objection,  to  deprecate  criticism,  or 
to  offer  apology  for  defect. 

Some  of  the  "specimens,"  here  exhibited,  were  pre 
served  during  an  apprenticeship  from  1795  to  1800  ; 
others,  occasionally,  in  subsequent  years.  When  solicited 
by  my  friends,  the  publishers,  to  write  a  book  of  reminis 
cences,  I  bethought  me  of  my  juvenile  repository  ;  and, 
on  looking  it  through,  it  occurred  to  me  that  some  of  its 
materials,  —  with  an  accompaniment  of  memoirs,  anec 
dotes,  and  scraps  of  history,  to  point  out  their  origin,  and, 
when  practicable,  identify  their  authors, — might  meet 
with  a  degree  of  favor,  sufficient  to  indemnify  the  expense 
of  publication.  "  On  this  hint "  I  went  to  work,  and 
here  is  the  product  of  my  labor. 

To  the  History  of  Printing,  by  the  late  Isaiah  Thomas, 
Esq.  I  am  indebted  for  many  —  though  not  all  —  the 
items  of  personal  history  of  the  earliest  printers.  I  know 
not  that  those  facts  can  be  obtained  from  any  other  source. 
Mr.  Thomas's  work  is  not  now  to  be  found  in  the  literary 


yi  PREFACE. 

market ;  —  it  is  entirely  out  of  print.  In  what  I  have 
drawn  from  it,  his  own  language  has  been  freely  pre 
served  ;  but  seldom,  if  ever,  without  some  kind  of  refer 
ence  acknowledging  the  obligation. 

For  most  of  that,  which  relates  to  the  history  of  Thomas 
Fleet  and  his  descendants,  my  acknowledgement  is  due 
to  John  F.  Eliot,  of  Boston,  a  branch  of  that  stock  by 
the  maternal  line,  and,  like  his  venerable  father,  the  late 
Dr.  Ephraim  Eliot,  a  studious  preserver  of  interesting 
and  curious  morsels  of  antiquity. 

The  relatives  of  the  late  Benjamin  Russell  politely 
favored  me  with  the  examination  of  all  the  manuscript 
papers  he  left  at  his  decease.  But  from  these  little 
could  be  extracted  to  aid  in  the  composition  of  a  memoir, 
worthy  of  the  subject.  They  were  chiefly  letters  on 
business  affairs,  that  possessed  no  interest  for  general 
readers.  From  the  papers  of  one,  who  had,  for  many 
years,  been  intimately  connected  with  some  of  the  most 
celebrated  statesmen  and  politicians  of  Massachusetts,  it 
was  expected  that  there  would  remain  some  tokens 
of  correspondence  on  matters  of  public  concern  ;  but 
nothing  of  this  description  was  discovered.  A  short  mem 
orandum,  on  a  piece  of  paper  not  larger  than  one  of  these 
pages,  stating  the  name  and  occupation  of  his  father,  the 
time  of  his  own  birth,  and  the  number  and  names  of  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  is  all  the  information  derived  from 
these  papers.  I  am  indebted  to  Henry  Farnum,  Esq.  of 
Boston, — long  the  familiar  friend  of  Mr.  Russell,  —  for 
suggestions  that  have  been  useful  in  compiling  the 
memoir ;  and  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jenks  of  Boston,  for  his 
courteous  criticism  and  kind  approbation  of  my  perform 
ance.  My  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Russell  began  in  1802, 


PREFACE.  Vll 

and  most  of  the  anecdotes  related  of  him  I  have  heard 
repeatedly  from  his  own  lips.  It  is  regretted  that  he  did 
not  occupy  some  of  the  latter  years  of  his  life  in  writing 
a  history  of  himself  and  his  times.  He  was  frequently 
requested  to  do  this,  as  frequently  resolved  that  he  would 
do  it,  but  died  and  left  no  record,  but  what  is  contained 
in  the  Centinel.  THAT  is  his  auto-biography  —  a  mirror, 
in  which,  only,  a  reflection  of  his  character  should  be 
sought,  and  in  which,  only,  it  will  be  found. 

To  the  Librarians  of  the  Antiquarian  Society,  the  Mas 
sachusetts  Historical  Society,  the  Boston  Athenaeum,  and 
of  Harvard  College,  my  thanks  are  due  for  the  privilege  of 
examining  the  files  of  newspapers  in  the  libraries  of  those 
institutions  respectively.  These  have  been  referred  to, 
chiefly,  to  verify  dates  and  to  confirm  impressions  on  the 
tablet  of  memory. 

A  large  portion  of  this  work  consists  of  extracts,  which 
required  but  little  exertion  to  select  and  arrange  in  their 
present  connection,  —  an  employment  more  pleasant  than 
irksome.  But  the  personal  notices,  meagre  and  imper 
fect  as  they  are,  have  not  been  compiled  without  labor 
and  vexation.  This  portion  has  been  tedious  and  discour 
aging.  Many  fruitless  inquiries  have  been  made  —  many 
letters  have  been  written,  which  produced  no  satisfactory 
answers.  I  have  been  anxious  to  present  more  particu 
lars  of  the  lives  and  actions  of  several  persons  than  I  have 
been  able  to  obtain.  In  respect  to  some,  who  have 
deceased  within  a  few  years,  and  who  are  still  remem 
bered,  I  have  not  been  successful  in  learning,  even 
from  their  nearest  relatives,  any  more  of  their  history 
than  the  places  and  times  of  their  respective  births  and 
deaths. 


Vlli  PREFACE. 

I  like  the  plan  of  this  work,  —  and  I  make  no  apology, 
nor  ask  pardon,  for  the  conceitedness  of  the  declaration. 
If  it  could  be  extended  so  as  to  embrace  sketches  and 
specimens  of  all  the  prominent  newspapers,  printers,  and 
editors,  that  have  put  in  their  claim  to  public  favor  in 
these  United  States,  —  and  which  are  entitled  to  such  a 
memorial,  —  I  cannot  resist  the  belief  that  it  would  be 
"instructive,  useful,  and  entertaining."  But  such  a 
field  of  labor  would  require  an  industrious  and  patient 
gleaner,  —  elastic  of  nerve,  redolent  of  ambition,  instinct 
with  courage,  and  confident  of  coming  years.  Such  a 
work  would  fill  more  volumes  than  would  be  read.  The 
world  itself  would  hardly  contain  the  books. 

The  limits,  to  which,  by  an  arrangement  with  the  pub 
lisher,  the  contents  of  these  volumes  were  circumscribed, 
have  necessarily  confined  the  selections  of  specimens  to 
New-England  (except  in  one  or  two  instances)  and  chiefly 
to  Massachusetts,  and  precluded  all  notices  of  publica 
tions  that  have  had  their  origin  since  the  commencement 
of  the  present  century.  Materials  for  a  third  volume, 
embracing  matters  of  more  recent  date,  and  which  excited 
some  interest  at  the  time  of  their  occurrence,  are  on  hand  ; 
but  it  is  not  desirable  that  the  public  should  bejburdened 
with  uncalled-for  details.  And  even  if  the  publication 
should  be  demanded,  a  willing  compliance  with  the  call 
may  be  defeated  by  an  event,  to  which  all  are  sub 
ject,  —  an  event  which  may  happen  TO-MORROW,  —  which 
must  happen  SOON. 

These  volumes  make  no  pretensions  to  a  high  literary 
character.  They  are  the  production  of  one,  who  had  no 
advantages  of  education,  but  such  as  were  supplied  by 
the  district  schools  in  Connecticut,  more  than  sixty  years 


PREFACE.  IX 

ago,  and  before  he  was  ten  years  old.  For  all  else  of 
literary  qualification,  he  is  indebted  only  to  his  own  un 
aided  efforts.  The  printing-office  was  his  academy,  and 
he  has  no  diploma  from  any  other  University  than  that,  of 
which  Gutenberg,  Laurentius,  and  Faust,  were  the  found 
ers,  j.  T.  B. 


CONTENTS    OF    VOL.    I. 


PAGE 

/THE  BOSTON  NEWS-LETTER 4 

'TiiE  BOSTON  GAZETTE.     BROOKER'S  44 

THE  NEW-ENGLAND  COURANT 49 

THE  NEW-ENGLAND  WEEKLY  JOURNAL 89 

THE  WEEKLY  REHEARSAL 112 

x  THE  BOSTON  EVENING  POST 129 

•  THE  BOSTON  WEEKLY  POST-BOY 154 

THE  INDEPENDENT  ADVERTISER 156 

THE  BOSTON  GAZETTE.     KNEELAND  &  GREEN'S        .        .         -163 

--THE  BOSTON  GAZETTE.    EDES  &  GILL'S 165 

THE  BOSTON  WEEKLY  ADVERTISER 206 

THE  BOSTON  CHRONICLE       .  212 

THE  ESSEX  GAZETTE •        -217 

-  THE  NEW-ENGLAND  CHRONICLE 220 

THE  MASSACHUSETTS  GAZETTE  227 

THE  MASSACHUSETTS  SPY 229 

THE  CONSTITUTIONAL  COURANT          ......  246 

THE  INDEPENDENT  CHRONICLE  248 

THE  PENNSYLVANIA  JOURNAL 288 

THE  ESSEX  JOURNAL 298 

THE  INDEPENDENT  LEDGER 304 

THE  CONTINENTAL  JOURNAL 308 

THE  CONNECTICUT  JOURNAL  AND  NEW-HAVEN  POST-BOY        .  313 

THE  NEW-LONDON  GAZETTE 316 

THE  HERALD  or  FREEDOM 321 


Xll  CONTENTS. 


APPENDIX. 

PAGE 

JAMES  FRANKLIN'S  IMPRISONMENT 337 

LETTERS  or  REV.  S.  PETERS 339 

BENJAMIN  EDES 347 

LEONARD  WORCESTER 347 

INDEX  TO  VOL.  I.        ...  .  345 


SPECIMENS 


OF 


NEWSPAPER  LITERATURE. 


THE  first  attempt  to  set  up  a 'newspaper,'  hv  North- 
America, —  so  far  as  can  be,  .ascertain ec[  Jimn<  existing 
records,  or  from  tradition,— was  made  in  Boston,  in  'the 
year  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety.  Of  the 
paper  then  issued  only  one  copy  is  known  to  be  in  ex 
istence;  and  that  copy  is  deposited  in  the  State  Paper 
Office  in  London,  where  it  has  been  seen  and  examined 
by  the  Rev.  Joseph  B.  Felt,  the  Librarian  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  Historical  Society. 

Number  1  of  this  paper,  and  probably  the  only  number 
ever  published,  is  dated  September  25,  1690.  It  is  a  small 
sheet,  of  four  quarto  pages,  —  one  of  which  is  blank,  — 
and  contains  a  record  of  passing  occurrences,  foreign  and 
domestic.  Immediately  on  its  publication,  it  was  noticed 
by  the  legislative  authorities.  Four  days  after,  they  spoke 
of  it  as  a  pamphlet ;  stated  that  it  came  out  contrary  to 
law,  and  contained  "  reflections  of  a  very  high  nature." 
They  strictly  forbade  "  any  thing  in  print,  without  license 
first  obtained  from  those  appointed  by  the  government  to 

VOL.  i.  1 


2  SPECIMENS    OF 

grant  the  same."  It  was  printed  by  Richard  Pierce  for 
Benjamin  Harris.* 

Richard  Pierce,  the  reputed  printer  of  this  newspaper, 
is  said  by  Mr.  Thomas  to  have  been  the  fifth  person 
who  carried  on  the  printing  business  in  Boston.  Where 
he  learned  the  art  is  not  known ;  but,  as  there  was  a 
printer  of  that  name  in  London  in  1679,  it  is  thought 
not  improbable  that  he  emigrated  to  this  country,  and 
set  up  his  press  in  Boston,  and  was  identical  with  the 
Richard  Pierce,  whose  name  appears  in  the  imprint 
of  the  newspaper,  that  is  in  the  London  State  Paper 
Office. 

Benjamin  Harris,  whose  name  is  given  as  that  of  the 
proprietor  -of  this  'firs't  «e'ws£aper,  had  a  printing-house  in 
Boston,:  aftft'.prkrtect  chiefly'  for  booksellers.  In  1692 
and  1694,  he' printed  tiie  Act's  and  Laws  of  Massachu 
setts,  and,  according  to  the  imprint,  was  "Printer  to  his 
Excellency  the  Governour  and  Council."  He  was  from 
London,  and  returned  to  that  place  about  the  year  1694. 
Both  before  and  after  his  emigration  to  this  country, 
he  had  a  bookstore  in  London.  Dunton,  an  English  book 
seller,  who  had  been  in  Boston,  in  his  "  Life  and  Errors," 
printed  in  London,  in  1705,  says  of  Benjamin  Har 
ris,  —  "  He  was  a  brisk  asserter  of  English  liberties,  and 
once  printed  a  book  with  that  very  title.  He  sold  a 
Protestant  Petition  in  King  Charles's  reign,  for  which  he 
was  fined  five  pounds ;  and  he  was  once  set  in  the 
pillory,  but  his  wife  (like  a  kind  Rib)  stood  by  him  to 
defend  her  husband  against  the  mob.  After  this  (having 
a  deal  of  mercury  in  his  natural  temper)  he  traveled  to 

*  See  Felt's  History  of  Salem,  vol.  i. 


NEWSPAPER     LITERATURE.  J 

New-England,  where  he  followed  bookselling,  and  then 
coffee-selling,  and  then  printing,  but  continued  Ben 
Harris  still,  and  is  now  both  bookseller  and  printer  in 
Grace  Church  Street,  as  we  find  by  Ms  London  Post ; 
so  that  his  conversation  is  general  (but  never  imperti 
nent)  and  his  wit  pliable  to  all  inventions.  But  yet  his 
vanity,  if  he  has  any.  gives  no  alloy  to  his  wit,  and  is  no 
more  than  might  justly  spring  from  conscious  virtue ; 
and  I  do  him  but  justice  in  this  part  of  his  character,  for 
in  once  traveling  with  him  from  Bury  Fair,  I  found  him 
to  be  the  most  ingenious  and  innocent  companion,  that  I 
had  ever  met  with."  * 

Harris's  commission  to   print   the  Laws  was  placed 
on  the  page  opposite  to  the  title,  in  the  words  following  : 

By  his  Excellency.  —  I  order  Benjamin  Harris  to  print  the  Acts 
and  Laws  made  by  the  Great  and  General  Court,  or  Assembly  of  Their 
Majesties  Province  of  Massachusetts-Bay  in  New-England,  that  we  the 
People  may  be  informed  thereof. 

WILLIAM  PHIPPS. 

Boston,  December  16,  1692. 

*  History  of  Printing-,  vol.  i.  2S7-9. 


THE  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 


THE  first  newspaper  established  in  North-America, 
was  the  Boston  News-Letter,  the  first  number  of  which 
appeared  on  Monday,  April  24,  1704.  It  was  a  half 
sheet  of  paper,  in  size  about  twelve  inches  by  eight ; 
made  up  in  two  pages  folio,  with  two  columns  on  each 
page.  Under  the  title,  which  is  in  Roman  letters  of 
the  size  called,  by  printers,  French  Canon,  are  the  words 
"  printed  by  authority,"  in  Old  English,  or  Black  let 
ter.  The  imprint  is  "  Boston  ;  Printed  by  7?.  Green. 
Sold  by  Nicholas  Boone,  at  his  Shop  near  the  Old  Meet- 
ing-House."  From  the  annexed  advertisement,  —  the 
only  one  which  the  paper  contains,  —  it  is  safe  to  infer 
that  the  proprietor  was  John  Campbell :  — 

This  News-Letter  is  to  be  continued  Weekly ;  and  all  Persons  who 
have  any  Houses,  Lands,  Tenements,  Farms,  Ships,  Vessels,  Goods, 
Wares,  or  Merchandizes,  &c.  to  be  Sold,  or  Let;  or  Servants  Run-away, 
or  Goods  Stole  or  Lost ;  may  have  the  same  inserted  at  a  Reasonable 
Rate,  from  Twelve  Pence,  to  Five  Shillings,  and  not  to  exceed :  Who 
may  agree  with  John  Campbel  Postmaster  of  Boston. 

All  Persons  in  Town  and  Country  may  have  said  News-Letter  every 
Week,  Yearly,  upon  reasonable  terms,  agreeing  with  John  Campbel,  Post 
master  for  the  same. 


BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER.  5 

From  its  commencement  to  November  3,  1707,  the 
News-Letter  was  printed  by  Bartholomew  Green.  From 
that  date  to  October  2,  1711,  it  was  "  Printed  by  John 
Allen  in  Pudding-Lane.*  And  Sold  at  the  Post-Office, 
in  Cornhill."  At  that  time,  the  post-office  and  Allen's 
printing-office  were  destroyed  by  fire,  and  the  paper  was 
again  printed  by  B.  Green,  "  for  John  Campbell,  Post 
master,"  till  the  end  of  the  year  1722. 

Of  the  personal  history  of  John  Campbell,  I  am  not 
aware  that  any  thing  is  known,  except  that  he  "  was  a 
Scotchman,  a  bookseller,  and  postmaster  in  Boston." 
If  his  literary  accomplishments  should  be  estimated  by 
the  evidence  furnished  in  the  columns  of  his  paper, 
they  were  not  of  a  high  order.  The  contents  of  the 
News-Letter,  during  the  whole  of  his  proprietorship,  are 
chiefly  extracts  from  London  papers.  The  little,  that  has 
the  appearance  of  having  been  written  by  the  editor,  is 
clumsily  composed,  with  no  regard  to  punctuation  or 
grammatical  construction.  His  own  advertisements  con 
cerning  the  business  relations  between  him  and  his  cus 
tomers  form  the  principal  portion  of  all,  that  may  be 
considered  as  original  matter.  The  extracts,  which  fol 
low,  taken  almost  at  random  are  specimens  of  the  style 
of  his  composition. 

During  the  several  years  from  its  commencement,  it 
is  evident,  from  Campbell's  frequent  and  importunate 
calls  upon  the  public,  that  the  News-Letter  had  but 
feeble  support,  and  limited  circulation.  The  following 
advertisement  is  taken  from  the  paper  of  May  12,  1707, 
more  than  three  years  after  the  publication  was  begun  : — 

*  Now  Devonshire-street. 


6  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

At  the  perswasion  of  several  Gentlemen,  Merchants  and  others,  both 
in  this  and  the  Neighbouring  Provinces,  who  are  sensible  of  the  want  of 
this  Publick  Letter  of  Intelligence  for  both  Foreign  and  Domestic 
Occurrences;  the  Undertaker  has  once  more  attempted  to  Print  the 
same  in  hopes  that  all  Persons  who  loves  a  Publick  Good  will  one  way 
or  other  put  to  their  helping  hand,  to  Promote  and  Support  it,  that  the 
same  may  not  only  be  carryed  on  a  fourth  year,  but  also  continued  for 
the  future. 

And  all  Persons  in  Town  and  Countiy  who  have  a  mind  to  encourage 
the  same,  may  have  the  said  Letter  of  Intelligence  every  Week  by  the 
year  upon  reasonable  Terms,  agreeing  with  John  Campbell  Post-master 
of  Boston. 

'Tis  taken  for  granted  that  all  such  who  had  this  Letter  of  Intelligence 
last  year,  and  have  not  forbid  the  same,  will  be  still  willing  to  take  it  at 
the  Price  which  others  give  :  If  any  are  of  a  contrary  mind,  let  them 
signify  it,  and  we  shall  forbear  sending  it  to  them. 

The  Undertaker  has  also  been  advised  to  carry  on  the  Occurrences 
where  they  were  left  off,  and  'tis  hoped  that  fourteen  days  will  retrieve 
the  same. 

At  the  close  of  the  fourth  year,  Campbell  repeated  his 
appeal  to  the  public  in  more  importunate  terms  than 
before.  "  All  Persons  in  Town  and  Country,"  who  had 
not  already  paid  for  the  fourth  year,  were  desired  "  to 
pay  or  send  it  in  :  with  their  resolution  if  they  would 
have  it  continued  and  proceeded  in  for  a  fifth  year,  (Life 
permitted  :)  though  there  has  not  as  yet  appeared  a 
competent  number  to  take  it  annually  so  as  to  enable 
the  Undertaker  to  carry  it  on  effectually ;  yet  he  is  still 
willing  to  proceed  with  it,  if  those  gentlemen  that  have 
the  last  year  lent  their  helping  hand  to  support  it,  con 
tinue  still  of  the  same  mind  another  year,  in  hopes  that 
those  who  have  been  backward  to  promote  such  a  Pub- 
lick  Good  will  at  last  set  in  with  it." 

In  January,  1719,  Campbell  proposed  publishing  his 
paper  on  a  whole  sheet,  "  because,"  as  he  said,  he  found 
it  impossible,  "  with  half  a  sheet  a  week  to  carry  on  all 


JOHN    CAMPBELL.  7 

the  Publick  News  of  Europe."  The  project  does  not 
seem  to  have  fulfilled  his  expectations  ;  for,  a  few  months 
afterwards,  he  again  laid  his  grievances  before  the  public, 
in  language,  which  could  leave  no  doubt  that  he  was  suf 
fering  sore  disappointment :  — • 

The  Undertaker  of  this  News-Letter,  the  1 2th  January  last  being  the 
Second  Week  of  this  Currant  Years  Intelligence  gave  then  Intimation 
that  after  14  (now  upwards  of  15)  years  experience,  it  was  impossible 
with  half  a  Sheet  a  Week  to  carry  on  all  the  Publick  Occurrences  of 
Europe,  with  those  of  this,  our  Neighbouring  Provinces,  and  the  West 
Indies.  To  make  up  which  Deficiency,  and  the  News  Newer  and  more 
acceptable,  he  has  since  Printed  every  other  Week  a  Sheet,  whereby 
that  which  seem'd  Old  in  the  former  half  Sheets,  becomes  New  now  by 
the  Sheet,  which  is  easy  to  be  seen  by  any  One  who  will  be  at  the  pains 
to  trace  back  former  years,  and  even  this  time  12  Months,  we  Avere  then 
13  Months  behind  with  the  Foreign  News  beyond  Great  Britain,  and 
now  less  than  Five  Months,  so  that  by  the  Sheet  we  have  retrieved  about 
8  months  since  January  last,  and  any  One  that  has  the  News-Letter 
since  that  time,  to  January  next  (life  permitted)  will  be  accommodated 
with  all  the  News  of  Europe,  &c.  contained  in  the  Publick  Prints  of 
London  that  are  needful  for  to  be  known  in  these  Parts.  And  in  regard 
the  Undertaker  had  not  suitable  encouragement,  even  to  Print  half  a 
Sheet  Weekly,  seeing  that  he  cannot  vend  300  at  an  Impression,  tho' 
some  ignorantly  concludes  he  Sells  upwards  of  a  Thousand  ;  far  less  is 
he  able  to  Print  a  Sheet  every  other  Week,  without  an  Addition  of  4,  6, 
or  8  Shillings  a  Year,  as  eveiy  one  thinks  fit  to  give  payable  Quarterly, 
which  will  only  help  to  pay  for  Press  and  Paper,  giving  his  Labour  for 
nothing.  And  considering  the  great  Charge  he  is  at  for  several  Setts  of 
Publick  Prints,  by  sundry  Vessels  from  London,  with  the  Price  of  Press, 
Paper,  Labour,  carrying  out  the  News  Papers,  and  his  own  Trouble,  in 
collecting  and  composing,  &c.  It  is  afforded  by  the  Year,  or  by  the 
Piece  or  Paper,  including  the  difference  of  money  far  cheaper  than  in 
England,  where  they  Sell  several  Hundreds  nay  Thousands  of  Copies 
to  a  very  small  number  vended  here.  Such  therefore  as  have  not 
already  paid  for  the  half  Year  past  the  last  Monday  of  June,  are  hereby 
desired  to  send  or  pay  in  the  same  to  John  Campbell  at  his  House  in 
Cornhill,  Boston.  August  10,  1719. 

It  does  not  appear  that  Campbell  was  relieved  of  his 
embarrassments  by  these  urgent  representations  of  his 


8  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

discouraging  circumstances.  About  this  time  a  new 
postmaster  was  appointed,  who,  in  December,  1719, 
began  the  publication  of  another  paper.  Campbell  was 
much  annoyed  by  his  removal  from  office,  and  perhaps 
equally  so  by  the  setting  up  of  a  rival  newspaper.  He 
again  addressed  his  customers,  stating  that  he  began  his 
"  Publick  Letter  of  Intelligence  near  upon  sixteen  years 
ago,  and  ever  since  continued  Weekly  with  Universal  Ap 
probation,"  &,c.,  "  for  the  Interest  and  advantage  of  the 
Post-Office,  Gentlemen,  Merchants  and  others,  both  in 
Town  and  Country ;  and  preventing  a  great  many  false 
Reports."  In  a  similar  style  he  continued  to  address 
the  public,  two  or  three  times  a  year,  as  long  as  he  re 
mained  proprietor  of  the  News-Letter. 

The  establishment  of  a  third  newspaper,  —  The  New- 
England  Courant,  by  James  Franklin,  in  1721, — was 
another  annoyance  to  Campbell,  and  produced  a  "  paper 
war,"  which  lasted  as  long  as  he  was  connected  with 
the  News-Letter.  In  his  address  to  the  public,  Frank 
lin,  it  seems,  intimated  that  the  News-Letter  was  "  a  dull 
vehicle  of  intelligence."  The  imputation  roused  Camp 
bell's  temper,  and  imparted  a  spark  or  two  of  vitality  to 
his  paper.  He  defended  himself  against  Franklin's 
charge  in  this  wise,  in  the  News-Letter  of  August  14 :  — 

03^  On  Monday  last  the  7th  Currant,  came  forth  a  Third  Newspaper 
in  this  Town,  Entituled,  The  New  England  Courant,  by  Homo  non  unius 
Negotii ;  Or,  Jack  of  all  Trades,  and  it  would  seem,  Good  at  none ; 
giving  some  very,  very  frothy  fulsome  Account  of  himself,  but  lest  the 
continuance  of  that  style  should  offend  his  readers ;  wherein  with  sub 
mission  (I  speak  for  the  Publisher  of  this  Intelligence,  whose  endeav 
ours  has  always  been  to  give  no  offence,  not  meddling  with  things  out 
of  his  Province.)  The  said  Jack  promises  in  pretence  of  Friendship 
to  the  other  News  Publishers  to  amend  like  soure  Ale  in  Summer, 
Reflecting  too,  too  much  that  my  performances  are  now  and  then,  very, 


JOHN    CAMPBELL.  9 

very  Dull,  Misrepresenting  my  candid  endeavours  (according  to  the 
Talent  of  my  Capacity  and  Education  ;  not  soaring  above  my  Sphere) 
in  giving  a  true  and  genuine  account  of  all  Matters  of  Fact,  both  For 
eign  and  Domestick,  as  comes  any  way  well  Attested,  for  these  Seven 
teen  Years  &  an  half  past.  It  is  often  observed,  a  bright  Morning  is 
succeeded  by  a  dark  Rainy  Day,  and  so  much  Mercury  in  the  beginning 
may  end  in  Album  Grcecum.  And  seeing  our  New  Gentleman  seems  to 
be  a  Scholer  of  Academical  Learning,  (which  I  pretend  not  to,  the 
more  my  unhappiness  ;  and  too  late  to  say,  0  mihi  p7~ceteritos  referat  si 
Jupiter  Annos)  and  better  qualified  to  perform  a  work  of  this  Nature, 
for  want  whereof  out  of  a  Design  for  publick  good  made  me  at  first  at 
the  Sollicitation  of  several  Gentlemen,  Merchants,  and  Others,  come 
into  it,  according  to  the  Proverb,  thinking  that  half  a  Loafe  was  better 
than  no  Bread ;  often  wishing  and  desiring  in  Print  that  such  a  one 
would  undertake  it,  and  then  no  one  should  sooner  come  into  it  and 
pay  more  Yearly  to  carry  it  on  than  this  Publisher,  and  none  appearing 
then,  nor  since,  (others  being  judges)  to  excell  him  in  their  perform 
ances,  made  him  to  continue.  And  our  New  Publisher  being  a  Scholler 
and  Master,  he  should  (me  thinks)  have  given  us  (whom  he  terms  low, 
flat  and  dull)  Admonition  and  told  one  and  the  other  wherein  our  Dul- 
ness  lay,  (that  we  might  be  better  Proficients  for  the  future,  Whither 
in  reading,  hearing,  or  pains  taking,  to  write,  gather,  collect  and  insert 
the  Publick  Occurrences)  before  publick  Censure,  and  a  good  example 
to  copy  and  write  after,  and  not  tell  us  and  the  World  at  his  first  setting 
out,  that  he'll  be  like  us  in  doing  as  we  have  done.  Turpe  est  Doctori 
cum  culpa  redarguit  ipsum.  And  now  all  my  Latin  being  spent  except 
ing  what  I  design  always  to  remember  Nemo  sine  crimine  vivit.  I  pro 
mise  for  my  part  so  soon  as  he  or  any  Scholler  will  Undertake  my  hitherto 
Task,  arid  Endeavours,  giving  proof  that  he  will  not  be  very,  very  Dull, 
I  shall  not  only  desist  for  his  Advantage,  but  also  so  far  as  capable 
Assist  such  a  good  Scribe. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  early  numbers  of  Frank 
lin's  paper  are  not  to  be  found,  and  that  no  trace  can  be 
discovered  of  either  the  address,  which  called  forth  the 
defence  of  Campbell,  or  Franklin's  reply,  which  appeared 
in  the  Courant  of  the  next  week.  That  his  reply  was 
caustic  and  severe  is  evident  from  Campbell's  rejoinder, 
which  came  out  in  the  News-Letter  of  August  28,  as 
follows  :  — 


10  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 


.  C.  to  Jack  Dullman  sendeth  Greeting. 
Sir,  What  you  call  a  Satyrical  Advertisement  was  a  just  Vindica 
tion  of  my  News-Letter,  from  some  unfair  Reflections,  in  your  Introduc 
tion  to  your  first  Courant  ;  Your  reply  in  hobling  Verse,  had  they  more 
Eeasoii  and  less  Railing  might  possibly  have  inclined  me  to  think  you 
was  some  Man  of  great  Learning,  or  as  you  please  to  Word  it,  a 
Meikle  Man  ;  but  Railery  is  the  talent  of  a  mean  Spirit,  and  not  to  be 
returned  by  me.  In  honour  to  the  Muses  I  dare  not  acknowledge  your 
Poem  to  be  from  Parnassus  ;  but  as  a  little  before  the  Composure  you 
had  been  Rakeing  in  the  Dunghill,  its  more  probable  the  corrupt  Steams 
got  into  your  Brains,  and  your  Dullcold  Skul  precipitate  them  into  Ri 
baldry.  I  observe  you  are  not  always  the  same,  your  History  of  Inocu 
lation  intends  the  Publick  Good,*  but  your  Letter  to  Mr-  Compton  and 
Rhyme  to  me  smell  more  of  the  Ale  Tub  than  the  Lamp.  I  do  not 
envy  your  skill  in  Anatomy,  and  your  accurate  discovery  of  the  Gall 
Bladder,  nor  your  Geography  of  the  Dunghill  (natale  solum.)  You  say 
your  Ale  grows  better,  but  have  a  care  you  do  not  Bottle  it  too  New, 
Lest  the  Bottles  fly  and  wet  your  Toyes.  You  say  you  are  the  Wise 
man,  and  his  Advice  is,  Prov.  xxvi.  Ver.  4  Answer  not  a  fool  according 
to  his  folly,  lest  thou  be  like  unto  him.  And  not  veiy  disagreeable  to  what 
I  learned  when  a  School  Boy. 

Contra  verbosos,  noli  contenders  verbis. 

Against  a  man  of  wind  spend  not  thy  Breath. 
Therefore  I  conclude  with  Verbum  Sapienti, 

Tutius  est,  igitur  fictis  contendere  verbis, 

Quam  pugnare  manu  Vale. 

Since  like  the  Indian  Natives,  you  Delight, 
to  Murder  in  the  Dark,  eshun  and  fly  the  light, 

Farewel. 

This  quarrel,  in  which  the  ill-temper  was  probably  all 
on  one  side,  and  the  laughter  and  fun  on  the  other,  doubt 
less  added  popularity  to  both  papers.  A  certain  portion 
of  readers  have  always  appeared  to  enjoy  the  quarrels 
of  editors.  That  the  public  read  with  avidity,  —  some 
times  with  insatiable  greediness,  —  the  controversies, 
which  happen  among  the  conductors  of  newspapers,  at 
the  present  day,  is  a  fact  too  notorious  to  need  any 

*  The  Courant  strongly  opposed  inoculating  for  the  small  pox. 


JOHN  CAMPBELL.  11 

illustrative  evidence.  The  propensity  was,  probably,  no 
weaker  in  the  days  of  Campbell  and  Franklin. 

While  this  controversy  continued,  which  was  about 
two  months,  Campbell  issued  a  whole  sheet  every  week, 
after  which  the  News-Letter  was  reduced  to  its  original 
dimensions.  The  nick-name,  Jack  Dullman,  was  proba 
bly  used  by  Campbell  as  a  retort  upon  Franklin,  for  say 
ing  that  the  News-Letter  was  "  dull,  very  dull." 

The  files  of  the  News-Letter,  down  to  the  end  of  the 
year  1722,  —  when  Bartholomew  Green  became  its  pro 
prietor, —  are  very  imperfect.  The  most  complete,  that 
I  have  been  able  to  find,  are  those  in  the  Library  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  —  and  these  are  all 
bound  in  two  volumes,  —  embracing  not  half  the  num 
bers  for  the  years  previous  to  1720.  It  is  not  probable 
that  the  missing  numbers  differ  essentially  in  the  charac 
ter  of  their  contents  from  those,  which  are  preserved. 
Extracts  from  English  papers  are  the  principal  material. 
It  was  undoubtedly  the  intention  of  Campbell  to  present 
a  connected  narrative  of  the  most  important  political 
events  in  Europe  ;  and  this  intention  he  apparently  ful 
filled,  as  far  as  the  limits  of  his  paper  allowed.  The 
intercourse  between  this  country  and  Europe  not  being 
carried  on  with  much  regularity,  the  intelligence  was 
seldom  imparted  to  his  readers,  till  some  months  after 
the  transactions,  that  formed  its  basis.  The  first  number 
of  the  paper,  April  24,  1704,  contained  accounts  of  the 
movements  of  the  Jacobites  in  Scotland,  in  November, 
1703,  and  the  speech  of  Queen  Anne  to  Parliament,  in 
relation  to  the  designs  of  the  Pretender,  delivered  Decem 
ber  17,  1703.  The  narrative  of  the  wars  in  Europe  during 
the  reign  of  Anne,  and  loyal  addresses  from  various  cities, 


12  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

boroughs,  and  corporations,  with  her  "  most  gracious " 
replies,  are  prominent  articles  in  many  numbers  of  the 
paper.  Indeed,  almost  every  important  state  paper, 
issued  by  the  government  of  Great-Britain,  may  be  found 
in  the  News-Letter. 

"The  domestic  affairs  of  the  colonies  occupy  but  a 
small  space.  Arrivals  and  clearances  at  the  principal 
ports,  and  the  "remarkable  occurrences"  of  the  times, 
are  generally  comprised  in  a  few  lines. x  Occasionally, 
however,  we  find  an  incident  related  in  a  style  adapted 
to  gratify  the  lovers  of  the  marvelous.  The  two,  which 
follow,  are  presumed  to  be  the  composition  of  the  editor, 
and  to  exemplify  a  remark  before  made  concerning  his 
literary  acquirements.  The  first  is  from  the  News- 
Letter  of  May  8,  1704  :  - 

Piscataqua,  April  29.  By  Letters  thence,  acquainted,  that  on  Fryday 
the  28,  four  Indians  Seized  a  Servant  Maid  of  Richard  Waldrorfs,  Esq. 
at  Cocheco,  who  went  about  150  yards  from  the  Garrison  to  a  Spring, 
for  a  Jugg  of  Water,  about  half  an  hour  after  Sun  down  :  Supposed  to 
be  the  same  Indians  that  did  the  mischief  mentioned  in  my  last,  upon 
Nathanael  Header  and  Edward  Taylor :  They  askt  her  many  Questions ; 
Viz — Whither  there  was  not  a  French  Shallop  put  on  Shoar  in  New- 
England  in  a  Storm  1  And  what  was  become  of  the  Frenchmen  ? 
Whither  or  not  we  had  any  Forces  going  out  against  the  French  ? 
What  number  of  Souldiers  was  in  the  Garrison  ?  What  Mr.  Waldron 
had  been  doing  in  his  Field  all  day  ?  What  he  designed  to  do  v  ith 
that  new  Timber  hal'd  to  the  side  of  his  House  1  They  told  her  that 
they  had  lyen  near  his  House  all  that  day,  and  a  week  before  to  wait  to 
catch  him,  whom  they  saw  to  pass  o^r  his  Boom  towards  Capt.  Geer- 
ishes  two  Houses,  by  Sun-set ;  and  that  they  might  take  him  on  his 
return,  they  had  crept  down  to  the  foot  of  the  Boom,  as  near  as  possi 
ble:  at  which  time  the  Maid  came  along,  and  were  forced  to  take  her, 
otherwise  they  must  have  been  discovered :  They  told  her  also  that  they 
had  been  so  near  him  in  the  Field,  that  one  of  them  had  cock'd  his  Gun 
at  him,  and  going  to  discharge,  another  perswaded  him  to  forbear,  he 
would  presently  have  a  better  Shot  at  him :  They  likewise  told  her 
'twas  never  the  near  for  him  to  build  his  New  Fortifications  round  his 


JOHN    CAMPBELL.  13 

House,  for  they  would  certainly  take  him,  and  that  'twere  in  Vain  for 
him  to  Plant  his  New  Orchard  in  his  Field,  for  he  should  neither  eat  the 
apples,  nor  drink  the  Cyder,  for  that  they  would  have  him  by  &  by,  and 
roast  him,  and  She  should  see  it.  In  the  Interim  Mr.  Waldron  coming 
over  the  Boom ;  the  Watchman  on  the  Top  of  his  House,  not  knowing 
who  it  was,  call'd  out,  Stand ;  which  the  Indians  hearing,  being  fright 
ened  ran  all  away,  one  stept  back  and  with  the  head  of  his  Hatchet, 
knock't  the  Girl  down,  and  left  her  for  Dead,  who  lay  in  the  Spot  two 
Hours,  till  being  found  wanting,  was  enquir'd  after  and  search'd  for  at 
the  spring,  where  she  was  found,  a  little  come  to  her  self;  hope  she  may 
do  well,  for  her  skull  is  not  broke.  Thus  Mr.  Waldron  narrowly 
escap'd. 

A  manuscript  note,  attached  to  this  article,  says,  — 
"  This  was  a  story  invented  by  the  girl  to  conceal  her 
staying  too  long  at  the  spring  with  a  young  man."  This 
note  appears  to  be  in  the  hand-writing  of  the  late  Rev. 
Dr.  Eliot,  by  whose  family  the  volume  of  the  News- 
Letter,  now  before  me,  was  presented  to  the  Library  of 
the  Historical  Society. 

Here  follows  a  recital  of  "  moving  accidents,  by  flood 
and  field,"  which  appears  to  be  an  editorial  composition, 
standing  under  "Boston,  May  15." 

On  the  1 1 .  Currant  Arrived  Mr.  Jacob  Fowle  of  MarUehead,  at  Ston- 
ingtown,  in  a  small  Sloop,  about  22  days  from  Curaso :  he  was  lately  an 
Apprentice  to  Mr.  Bullfinch  Sail-maker  of  Boston;  went  out  some  12 
Months  ago,  in  one  Reddinton  from  Rhode-Island,  for  Curaso,  in  order 
to  go  a  Privateering  when  they  came  there  :  the  Governour  broke  their 
measures,  the  men  Shipt  themselves  some  one  way  and  some  another, 
his  Lot  was  to  go  on  board  a  Dutch  man,  bound  for  to  trade  with  the 
Spaniards,  in  a  Ketch  of  10  Guns.  A  Spaniard  met  them,  kill'd  the 
Dutch  Lieutenant.  The  Master,  Merchant  and  others  upon  it  jumpt 
into  the  hole,  before  the  Spaniard  so  much  as  boarded  them ;  and  if 
they  had  fought  need  not  have  been  taken.  When  they  were  carryed 
into  New  Spain,  where  he  was  about  9  Months,  all  the  men  were  sent  to 
the  Mines,  he  being  Sick  was  spared ;  and  when  somewhat  recovered, 
the  Governour  of  the  place,  wanting  a  Sute  of  Sails  to  be  made  for  a 
Sloop,  hearing  he  was  a  Sail-maker,  put  him  to  make  them ;  for  which 
he  had  a  very  small  reward,  a  bit  of  Meat  the  breadth  of  a  mans  Finger, 
2 


14  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

and  a  little  Cassadar  bread,  his  chief  Diet  while  in  N.  Spain  was  Oys 
ters.  A  Trader  being  bound  along  the  Coast  wanted  a  hand,  came  to 
the  Govemour  to  desire  the  English  man,  and  promised  to  return  him 
again,  when  he  came  back  ;  't  was  granted  :  So  Mr.  Fowle  went  along 
with  him,  and  coming  into  a  certain  Port  where  a  French  man  of  War 
lay ;  he  went  on  board,  and  met  another  English  man,  to  whom  he  said, 
that  if  he  would  go  along  with  him,  he  would  come  for  him  in  the  Night, 
and  would  carry  him  off,  't  was  agreed,  the  other  should  be  in  the  Lyon 
in  the  head,  and  he  should  come  with  his  Canoo,  and  take  him  in  ;  and 
they  two  should  knock  the  Spaniards  of  the  Barque  alongo  in  the  head, 
and  come  away  with  her,  and  accordingly  he  took  the  Canoo  in  the 
night,  when  the  Spaniard  was  asleep,  and  put  in  her  two  Guns,  two 
Cutlaces  and  2  Pistols,  took  the  Ancient  for  a  Sayl  and  Sails  to  the 
Man  of  War ;  the  Watch  on  board  was  too  quick-sighted  for  him,  espied 
'em,  and  was  forced  to  paddle  back  again  with  all  his  might,  put  the 
Ancient  in  his  place.  The  Spaniards  still  asleep  knew  nothing  of  it. 
In  some  short  time  afterwards,  the  Spaniards  going  all  ashore  leaving 
him  and  a  Spanish  Indian  on  board,  he  stept  and  unloos'd  the  Sails  of 
the  Barque  alongo,  told  the  Indian  if  he  would  go  along  with  him  might 
go  &  should  fare  well,  he  said  still  no  no,  &  went  to  take  up  a  Hand- 
spoke  to  knock  out  Mr.  Fowls's  brains,  in  the  interim  Mr.  Fowls  tript  up 
his  heels  &  threw  him  Over-board,  &  put  to  sea  j  the  Spaniards  on  Shoar 
Man'd  their  Canoo  to  overtake  him,  came  up  with  him :  The  Boat 
swain  first  put  his  hand  upon  the  Barque-alongo,  &  Mr.  Fowle  stab'd 
him  and  he  fell  backwards,  the  Captain  seeing  that,  said,  put  off;  the 
Fort  fired  several  shot  at  him,  some  whereof  camfc  thro'  his  Sayls. 
They  also  Man'd  a  Parriagur  after  him,  &  pursued  him  about  8  hours 
till  midnight ;  but  having  a  fair  wind,  in  about  two  days,  got  safe  into 
Curaso  about  70  Leagues  distant  from  the  Port  in  Neiv  Spain  he  came 
from,  having  on  Board  about  19000  of  Cocoa:  The  Lieut.  Gov.  of 
Curasso  forgave  him  the  Custom  of  it,  saying  he  well  deserved  it.  He 
sold  his  vessel  &  Cargo  there :  And  bought  the  Sloop  in  which  he  came 
home  in ;  he  met  with  a  violent  Storm  the  4  instant.  He  says  that  of 
late  the  Spaniards  kill  all  the  English  they  take,  but  saves  the  Dutch 
alive. 

The  News-Letter  of  June  5  contains  Governor  Dud 
ley's  Proclamation,  requiring  all  officers,  citizens,  &c., 
"  of  Her  Majesty's  Loving  Subjects,"  to  apprehend  and 
seize  certain  Pirates.  Captain  Quelch,  the  commander 
of  a  brigantine,  had  committed  a  piracy  on  a  Portuguese 


JOHN    CAMPBELL.  15 

merchantman,  and,  with  several  of  his  crew,  was  then 
in  custody  in  Boston.  More  of  the  crew  were  after 
wards  taken  at  Gloucester  and  the  Isle  of  Shoals. 
Quelch,  with  six  of  his  men,  was  tried  at  Boston,  and 
all  were  convicted  and  sentenced  to  be  hung.  A  sheet, 
which  appears  to  have  been  printed  as  a  supplement  to 
the  News-Letter,  contains  "  An  account  of  the  Behaviour 
and  last  Dying  Speeches  of  John  Quelch,  John  Lam 
bert,  Christopher  Scudamore,  John  Miller,  Eramus 
Peterson  and  Peter  Roach,  the  six  Pirates  that  were 
executed  on  Charles  River,  Boston  side,  on  Friday, 
June  30th,  1704."  The  account  states  that  the  minis 
ters  of  the  town  had  used  more  than  ordinary  endeavors 
to  instruct  the  prisoners  and  bring  them  to  repentance. 
"  There  were  sermons  preached  in  their  hearing  every 
day  —  and  prayers  daily  made  with  them.  And  they 
were  catechised  and  had  occasional  exhortations."  It 
further  states  that,  on  the  morning  of  the  execution, 
"  they  were  guarded  from  the  prison  in  Boston  by  forty 
musketeers,  constables  of  the  town,  the  provost  marshal, 
and  his  officers,  &c.,  with  two  ministers,  who  took  great 
pains  to  prepare  them  for  the  last  article  of  their  lives. 
Being  allowed  to  walk  on  foot  through  the  town  to 
Scarlett's  Wharf;  where  the  Silver  oar  being  carried 
before  them  ;  they  were  conveyed  by  water  to  the  place 
of  execution,"  &ic.  The  "  exhortations  to  the  malefac 
tors  "  and  the  prayer  made  by  one  of  the  ministers,  after 
the  pirates  were  on  the  scaffold,  "  as  near  as  it  could  be 
taken  in^writing  in  the  great  crowd,"  fill  near  half  of 
the  paper.  On  "going  up  the  stage,  Quelch  said  to  one 
of  the  ministers,  "  I  am  not  afraid  of  death.  I  am  not 
afraid  of  the  gallows :  but  I  am  afraid  of  what  follows. 


16  BOSTON     NEWS-LETTER. 

I  am  afraid  of  a  great  God  and  a  judgment  to  come." 
But,  says  the  narrative,  "he  afterwards  seemed  to  brave 
it  out  too  much  against  that  fear."  He  pulled  off  his 
hat  and  bowed  to  the  spectators,  and  said,  "  I  desire  to 
be  informed  for  what  I  am  here."  When  Lambert  was 
warning  the  spectators  to  beware  of  bad  company, 
"  Quelch  joining,"  they  said,  "  they  should  also  take 
care  how  they  brought  money  into  New  England  to  be 
hanged  for  it."  Peterson  "  cryed  of  injustice,"  and  told 
the  executioner,  "  he  was  a  very  strong  man,  and  prayed 
to  be  put  out  of  misery  as  soon  as  possible."  The  next 
paper  states  that  "  as  they  had  led  a  wicked  and  vicious 
life,  so  to  appearance,  they  dyed  very  obdurately  and 
impenitently,  hardened  in  their  sins." 
XThere  are  not,  generally,  more  than  two  or  three 
advertisements  in  each  paper.  VSome  of  them  are  amus 
ing  from  the  quaintness  of  their  style,  or  from  the  kind 
of  articles  advertised  for  sale.  The  following  are  speci 
mens  :  — 

A  Certain  Person  has  Two  or  Three  Hundred  Pounds  to  let  at  Inter 
est,  for  good  Security ;  Inquire  at  the  Post-office  In  Cornhill,  Boston,  and 
know  further. 

A  Strong  Lusty  white  Servant  Maids'  Time  for  about  three  years 
and  a  half,  fit  for  any  Household  Service,  to  be  disposed  of  by  Mr.  John 
Edwards,  Goldsmith  in  Cornhill,  Boston. 

By  Order  of  the  Post  Master  General  of 

North- America. 

These  are  to  give  Notice,  That  on  Monday  Night  the  Sixth  of  this  Instant 
December,  The  Western  Post  between  Boston  and  New- York,  sets  out  once 
a  Fortnight  the  Three  Winter  Months  of  December,  January  and  February, 
and  to  go  Alternately  from  Boston  to  Saybrook  and  Hartford,  to  Exchange 
the  Mayk  of  Letters  with  the  New- York  Ryder,  the  First  Turn  for  Say- 
Brook,  to  meet  the  New- York  Ryder  on  Saturday  Night  the  llth  Currant. 
And  the  Second  Turn  he  sets  out  at  Boston,  on  Monday  Night  the  20th 


JOHN    CAMPBELL.  17 

Currant  to  meet  the  New- York  Ryder  at  Hartford  on  Saturday  Night  the 
25th  Currant,  to  Exchange  Mayles, 

And  all  Persons  that  sends  Letters  from  Boston  to  Connecticut,  from 
and  after  the  13th  Instant,  are  hereby  Notified,  first  to  pay  the  Portage  on 
the  same. 

These  are  to  desire  a  certain  woman  that  convey'd  away  a  piece  of  fine 
Lace  of  Fourteen  Shillings  per  yard  from  a  Shop  in  Boston  about  Three 
Months  ago  to  return  the  same. 

And  of  another  that  convey'd  away  a  piece  Fine  Calico  under  her 
Eyding-hood  some  time  since  Satisfaction  is  Demanded,  or  else  they 
may  expect  to  be  publickly  exposed. 

From  these  it  appears  that  the  mystery  of  shop-lifting 
was  not  unknown  here  in  former  times.  One  class  of 
advertisements  was  too  common  to  be  viewed  at  the 
present  day,  without  regret  and  mortification.  For 
example :  — 

A  Negro  man,  a  negro  woman,  and  a  negro  Girl  about  16  years  old 
to  be  sold :  Inquire  at  the  Post-office  in  Cornhill,  Boston,  and  know 
further. 

Many  of  the  historical  facts,  that  form  the  basis  of 
European  history,  during  the  reigns  of  Queen  Anne  and 
George  I.,  may  be  read  in  the  Boston  News-Letter. 
Several  papers  are  filled  with  the  despatches  of  the 
Duke  of  Marlborough.  The  funeral  ceremonies  of 
Anne,  as  observed  at  Portsmouth,  Salem,  and  Boston, 
and  the  celebration  of  the  accession  of  George,  are 
described  in  a  style  of  exquisite  loyalty. 

It  is  presumed  that  Campbell  received  but  little,  if 
any,  aid  in  the  management  of  his  paper.  The  earliest 
communication  I  have  seen,  worthy  of  notice,  is  the 
following,  published  April  18,  1721.  The  article,  to 
which  it  is  a  reply,  I  have  not  been  able  to  find. 
2* 


18  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

The  Country-Man's  Answer,  to  a  Letter  Intituled,  The  Distressed 
State  of  the  Town  of  Boston  considered. 

SIR, 

I  Received  your  Letter,  and  shall  draw  up  an  Answer  to  it  at 
large,  when  I  have  a  little  Leisure  from  my  Husbandry,  and  have 
inquired  into  the  Truth  of  matters  of  Fact ;  for  I  must  needs  tell  you, 
we  have  a  great  many  Lyes  of  late  Years,  and  generally  about  this 
Season  of  the  Year,  sent  up  from  Boston,  and  with  great  Industry  spread 
among  us,  with  respect  to  the  State  of  Management  of  our  Publick 
Affairs  and  especially  a  New  Governour  being  expected ;  and  therefore 
you  must  Excuse  us  if  we  don't  believe  every  thing  that  you  send  us, 
either  in  Writing  or  Messages. 

I  am  truly  sorry  for  your  distressing  and  thretening  Circumstances 
in  Boston,  tho'  I  must  needs  say,  it  is  no  more  than  I  have  for  some 
time  been  afraid  of,  when  I  have  seen  your  sumptuous  Buildings,  your 
gallant  Furniture,  your  Costly  Clothing,  and  the  profuseness  of  your 
Tables,  and  the  great  and  scandalous  Expence  at  Taverns,  besides  a 
great  deal  of  other  Extravagance  ;  I  have  been  always  afraid  what  the 
Consequence  of  these  things  would  be ;  and  we  are  told  that  not  only 
the  Government,  but  the  Ministers  of  your  Town  have  with  all  Faith 
fulness  and  Seriousness  warned  you  hereof.  We  think  it  very  strange 
in  the  Country,  that  when  the  General  Assembly  have  framed  Laws, 
for  the  good  of  the  Community  and  even  for  the  Ease  of  Debtors  to 
prevent  their  Oppression,  that  any  private  Person  should  Arraign  the 
Wisdom  and  even  the  Justice  of  the  Legislature,  this  is  such  a  practice 
as  never  was  attempted  before,  and  we  suppose  will  not  be  counte 
nanced. 

As  to  Silver  and  Gold  we  never  had  much  of  it  in  the  Country ;  but 
we  can  very  well  remember,  that  before  we  had  Paper  Money,  there  was 
a  sufficiency  of  it  Currant  in  the  Country ;  and  as  the  Bills  of  Credit, 
came  in  and  multiplied,  the  Silver  ceased  and  was  gone ;  and  of  all 
Men,  you  in  Boston,  especially  the  Merchants,  should  be  silent  as  to  that 
matter,  for  you  have  shipp'd  it  off,  and  yet  now  complain  of  the  want 
of  it. 

As  to  the  Publick  Loans  or  Bank  as  you  call  it,  all  the  World  knows 
that  the  General  Assembly,  especially  the  Country  part  had  never 
thought  of  or  consented  to  it,  had  it  not  been  on  the  great  Sollicitation 
and  pressing  Importunity  of  the  Trading  part;  and  yet  now  you 
Arraign  their  Wisdom  and  even  their  Goodness,  this  must  be  lookt  on 
as  high  Ingratitude.  We  are  very  much  surprized,  you  should  Rake 
into  the  Ashes  of  the  Private  Bank  Projection,  that  has  been  buried  so 
many  Years ;  you  cannot  but  remember  that  not  only  the  General 


JOHN    CAMPBELL.  19 

Assembly,  upon  the  most  mature  deliberation,  solemnly  protested 
against  any  such  thing ;  but  even  your  own  Town  of  Boston,  at  such  a 
Meeting  as  we  understand  they  scarce  ever  had  before,  by  a  great 
Majority  utterly  refused  it.  It  is  too  large  a  Field  to  enter  upon  in  a 
short  Letter,  to  recite  the  endless  Mischiefs  and  Confusion  that  Projec 
tion  would  have  involv'd  us  in ;  and  we  and  our  Posterity  shall  have 
reason  to  be  thankful,  that  we  were  delivered  from  it. 

As  to  your  Project  of  Building  of  Bridges,  Fortifications  and  other- 
ways  of  laying  out  Money,  one  would  not  think  by  this  Paragraph  of 
your  Letter,  that  your  Circumstances  were  so  Distressing  as  you  pre 
tend  to. 

We  understand  the  Province  is  now  in  Debt,  1.60000  and  you  would 
have  it  run  1.100000  more  in  Debt,  and  say  it  will  be  for  our  Advan 
tage. 

This  is  what  we  cannot  Comprehend.  It  should  seem  to  us  not  only 
just  to  pay  our  Debts  ;  but  even  Wise  and  Prudent  for  the  Country  to 
clear  the  old  Score,  before  we  begin  a  new  one ;  and  I  suppose  it  will 
be  very  difficult  to  pcrswade  the  Government  into  any  such  Projection : 
If  the  Building  a  Bridge  to  Charlstown  be  of  such  weighty  profit,  I 
believe  the  Country  would  rather  private  Persons  should  undertake, 
and  run  the  Risque,  and  have  the  Benefits,  than  involve  the  Govern 
ment  in  so  chargable  and  dangerous  a  thing,  and  which  is  thought  by 
some  Impracticable. 

Your  Advice  as  to  setting  up  and  encouraging  Manufactures  we  very 
much  approve  of;  and  you  may  depend  upon  it,  we  in  the  Country 
shall,  with  the  Favour  of  GOD  raise  our  own  Provisions,  and  wear 
Clothing  of  our  own  making  as  far  as  possible  and  live  out  of  Debt. 

I  am  much  mistaken  if  His  Excellency  the  Governour  and  Council 
give  you  any  Thanks  for  these  few  Sugar  Plumbs  you  are  pleased  to 
sweeten  them  with,  when  you  so  much  affront  them  in  their  Publick 
Administration. 

As  to  your  Advice  about  the  choice  of  our  Representatives,  which 
seems  the  main  Spring  and  design  of  your  Letter,  we  shall  endeavour 
to  choose  Men  of  a  Publiek  Spirit  that  understand  and  design  the  good 
of  the  Country  in  General,  Men  of  good  Substance  and  Interest  in  the 
Country,  Men  well  affected  to  our  great  Master  King  GEORGE,  the 
Religion  Government  and  Liberties  of  New-England,  Men  that  will  take 
care  to  ease  the  Debts  of  the  Province ;  and  not  run  us  further  into 
Debt,  Men  of  Virtue  and  Peaceable  Dispositions ;  and  we  earnestly 
hope  your  People  in  Boston  will  make  the  same  choice,  that  so  we  may 
have  a  good  and  wise  Election,  and  a  Peaceable  and  happy  Session,  and 
the  General  Assembly  have  the  Divine  Conduct  and  Blessing  on  all 


20  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

their  Arduous  Affairs  ;  and  the  whole  Country  be  under  the  Protection 
and  Encouragement  they  Enjoy  leading  quiet  and  peaceable  Lives  in 
all  Godliness  and  Honesty. 

And  I  am 

SIR 

your  assured  Friend. 

As  a  memorial  of  the  pious  liberality  of  the  age,  the 
following  communication  from  a  gentleman  of  Providence 
is  not  destitute  of  interest :  — 


THESE  are  to  give  Notice,  That  whereas  there  are  in  the  Colony  of 
Rhode-Island  Providence  Plantations,  sundry  Congregations  of  Differ 
ent  Perswasions,  besides  the  Church  of  England,  and  a  Congregational 
Meeting- House  at  New-Port :  Several  well-disposed  Inhabitants  of 
Providence  (differing  in  their  Opinions  from  the  rest  of  their  Neigh 
bours  in  that  great  Town;  being  a  thorow  fair  to  the  Neighbouring 
Colonies,  where  Travellers  often  lodge  on  the  Lord's  Day)  and  not 
being  able  of  themselves,  to  build  a  Meeting-House,  for  GOD'S  Wor 
ship  to  be  performed  in,  by  an  Orthodox  Minister  of  the  Congrega 
tional  or  Presbiterian  Perswasion,  both  for  their  own  and  Strangers 
accommodation,  A  Gentleman  of  the  said  Town  and  Perswasion  (with 
the  Advice  and  Consent  of  the  others,  and  Approbation  of  sundry 
Able,  Pious  and  Grave  Ministers  of  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay)  took  upon  himself  the  Toil  and  Labour  of  going  from  place  to 
place,  both  in  this  Province  and  Rhode-Island  Government,  to  gather 
and  collect  every  Pious  Soul's  Voluntary  Contributions,  in  order  to 
forward  so  good  and  Christian  a  Work  ;  which  thro'  Mercy  (Laus  Deo] 
has  been  so  far  advanced  and  accomplished  by  John  Hogle  Physician  of 
the  said  Town,  that  on  Wednesday  the  fifth  of  this  Instant  September ; 
the  said  Meeting-House  was  Amicably  Raised  there,  for  which  the  said 
Hogle  hereby  desires  in  his  own  and  the  others  Names,  to  render  many 
Thanks  to  the  Honourable  and  Worthy  Gentlemen  and  other  Pious 
People,  that  by  their  Charity  lent  their  helping  Hand,  so  far  as  to  ena 
ble  him  and  them  to  Effect  and  Perform  this  good  piece  of  Service,  for 
the  further  advancing,  promoting,  and  enlarging  of  the  glorious  Gospel 
and  Kingdom  of  our  Dear  Lord  and  Saviour  JESUS  CHRIST. 

In  1721,  there  was  great  excitement  in  Boston,  on 
account  of  the  small-pox,  and  the  attempt  to  introduce 


JOHN     CAMPBELL.  21 

the  practice  of  inoculation.  "  At  a  town-meeting,  held  on 
the  fourth  of  November,  it  was  voted,  That  whosoever 
shall  come  into  this  town  of  Boston  from  any  other 
town  presumptuously,  to  bring  the  small-pox  on  him  or 
herself,  or  be  inoculated,  shall  be  forthwith  sent  to  the 
hospital  or  pest-house,  unless  they  see  cause  to  depart  to 
their  own  homes  ;  —  or  if  any  person  be  found  in  town 
under  that  operation,  which  may  be  an  occasion  of  con 
tinuing  a  malignant  infection,  and  increasing  it  amongst 
us,  that  they  be  removed  immediately,  lest  by  allowing 
this  practice,  the  town  be  made  an  hospital  for  that 
which  may  prove  worse  than  the  small-pox,  which  hath 
already  put  so  many  into  mourning.  And  that  the  jus 
tices  and  selectmen  be  desired  to  put  the  method  above 
said  into  practice,  without  delay,  as  the  law  directs." 

The  Rev.  Increase  Mather  and  his  son,  the  Rev. 
Cotton  Mather,  were  in  favor  of  inoculation.  Franklin 
and  the  correspondents  of  the  Courant  opposed  it,  and 
assailed  those  clergymen,  in  that  paper,  with  merciless 
ridicule.  The  following  communication  in  the  News- 
Letter  of  August  28,  two  weeks  after  the  first  number 
of  the  Courant  was  published,  was  attributed  to  Cotton 
Mather,  and  probably  not  without  reason  :  — 

To  the  Author  of  the  Boston  News-Letter. 
SIR, 

For  Publick  Use,  we  desire  the  favour  of  you  to  give  this  a  place 
in  your  Intelligencer,  Remembering  that  some  Weeks  past,  you  enter 
tained  your  Readers  with  a  sad  Account  of  a  scandalous  Club,  set  up 
in  London  ;  to  Insult  the  most  sacred  Principles  of  the  Christian  Reli 
gion,  tending  to  corrupt  the  Minds  and  Morals  of  the  People ;  Against 
whom  the  King  in  Council  gave  strict  Command  and  Orders  for  dis 
covering,  prosecuting  and  severely  punishing  any  that  are  found  guilty 
of  such  Impieties. 


22  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

And  for  a  Lamentation  to  our  amazement  (notwithstanding  of 
GOD'S  Jhand  against  us,  in  His  Visitation  of  the  Small-Pox  in  Boston, 
and  the  threatening  Aspect  of  the  Wet- Weather)  we  find  a  Notorious, 
Scandalous  Paper,  called  the  Courant,  full  freighted  with  Nonsense, 
Unmanliness,  Railery,  Prophaneness,  Immorality,  Arrogance,  Calum 
nies,  Lyes,  Contradictions,  and  what  not,  all  tending  to  Quarrels  arid 
Divisions,  and  to  Debauch  and  Corrupt  the  Minds  and  Manners  of 
New-England.  And  what  likewise  troubles  us  is,  That  it  goes  Currant 
among  the  People,  that  the  Practitioners  of  Physick  in  Boston,  who 
exert  themselves  in  discovering  the  evil  of  Inoculation  and  its  Tenden 
cies  (several  of  whom  we  know  to  be  Gentlemen  by  Birth,  Education, 
Probity  and  Good  Manners,  that  abhors  any  ill  Action)  are  said  esteem'd 
and  reputed  to  be  the  Authors  of  that  Flagitious  and  Wicked  Paper ; 
who  we  hope  and  trust  will  clear  themselves  off  and  from  the  Imputa 
tion,  else  People  will  take  it  for  granted,  they  are  a  New  Club  set  up  in 
New-England,  like  to  that  in  our  Mother  England,  whom  we  sincerely 
and  heartily  admonish  warn  and  advise,  not  only  to  remember  Lot's 
Wife  ;  but  also  what  befell  several  of  the  Club  in  England  ;  (which  we 
forbear  to  name)  lest  their  Bands  be  made  strong,  and  a  worse  thing 
befall  them. 

And  will  oblige  them  who  are, 

Your  Friends  and  Well- 
Wishers  to  our  Country  and 
all  Good  Men. 

Among   the   advertisements   in    the    News-Letter  of 
November  21,  is  the  following  :  — 

To  prevent  wrong  Representations  that  may  be  made  of  a  late  Aioful  and 
Tremendous  Occurrence  fallen  out  in  Boston,  it  was  thought  Jit  to  give  this 
true  and  short  Account  of  it. 

At  the  House  of  the  Reverend  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  there  lodged  his 
Kinsman,  a  worthy  Minister  under  the  Small-Pox,  received  and  man 
aged  in  the  way  of  Inoculation.  Towards  Three  of  the  Clock  in  the 
Night,  as  it  grew  towards  the  Morning  of  Tuesday  the  Fourteenth  of 
this  Instant  November,  some  unknown  Hands  threw  a  Fired  Granado 
into  the  Chamber  of  the  Sick  Gentleman :  The  weight  whereof  alone, 
if  it  had  fallen  upon  the  Head  of  the  Patient  (which  it  seemed  aimed 
at)  would  have  been  enough  to  have  done  part  of  the  Business  designed. 
But  the  Granado  was  charged  with  Combustible  matter,  and  in  such  a 
manner,  that  upon  its  going  off,  it  must  probably  have  killed  the  Per 
sons  in  the  Room,  and  would  have  certainly  fired  the  Chamber  &  soon 


BARTHOLOMEW    GREEN.  23- 

have  laid  the  House  in  Ashes,  which  has  appear'd  Incontestible  to  them 
that  have  since  Examined  it.  But  the  Merciful  Providence  of  GOD  so 
ordered  it,  that  the  Granado  passing  through  the  Window,  had  by  the 
Iron  in  the  Middle  of  the  Casement,  such  a  Turn  given  to  it,  that  in 
falling  on  the  Floor,  the  Fired  Wild-Fire  in  the  Fuse  was  silently  sha 
ken  out  some  Distance  from  the  Shell,  and  burned  out  upon  the  Floor, 
without  firing  the  Granado.  When  the  Granado  was  taken  up,  there 
was  found  a  Paper  so  tied  with  Thread  about  the  Fuse,  that  it  might 
outlive  the  breaking  of  the  Shell ;  wherein  were  these  Words  :  COT 
TON  MATHER.  /  was  once  one  of  your  Meeting :  But  the  Cursed  Lye 

you  told  of You  know  who,  made  me  leave  You,  You  Dog, 

And  Damn  You,  I  will  Inoculate  You  with  this,  with  a  Pox  to  You.  This 
is  the  Sum  of  the  Matter,  without  any  Remarks  upon  it. 

At  the  end  of  the  year  1722,  Campbell  gave  up  his 
property  in  the  News-Letter  to  Green,  —  as  appears  by 
the  following  advertisement,  published  in  the  paper  of 
December  31. 

***  These  are  to  give  Notice,  That  Mr.  Campbell,  Designing  not  to 
Publish  any  more  News-Letters,  after  this  Monday  the  31st  Currant, 
Bartholomew  Green  the  Printer  thereof  for  these  18  Years  past,  having 
had  Experience  of  his  Practice  therein ;  intends  (Life  permitted)  to 
carry  on  the  same,  (using  his  Method  on  the  Arrival  of  Vessels  from 
Great  Britain,  £c.,  to  give  a  Summary  of  the  most  Remarkable  Occur 
rences  of  Europe,  and  afterwards  the  Thread  of  the  News,)  provided  he 
can  have  due  Encouragement  by  competent  Numbers  taking  it  by  the 
Year,  so  as  to  enable  him  to  defray  the  necessary  Charges.  And  all 
those  who  have  a  Mind  (either  in  Town  or  Country)  to  Promote  and 
Encourage  the  Continuation  of  the  abovesaid  Intelligence,  are  hereby 
desired  to  Agree  with  the  said  Green,  either  by  Word  or  Writing ;  who 
may  have  it  on  reasonable  Terms,  left  at  any  House  in  Town,  Sealed  or 
Unsealed. 

This  notice  was  republished  the  next  week,  with 
this  addition  : — 

This  being  the  first  of  a  Neiv  Year,  it  is  sent  at  Present  to  such  as  bespoke 
the  Publisher  for  it,  and  those  who  had  it  last  year  from  Mr.  Campbell,  who 
if  any  of  them  are  not  witting  it  should  be  continued  to  them,  are  hereby 
desired  to  return  this. 

Bartholomew  Green  began  his  career,  as  publisher  and 
editor  of  the  News-Letter,  with  an  intention  of  making 


24  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

it  a  correct  source  of  intelligence,  and  of  giving  it  a 
moral  and  religious  character.  His  third  number,  January 
21,  has  the  following  notice  on  the  first  column  : 

An  Advertisement  from  the  Publisher. 

It  being  my  Desire  to  make  this  as  profitable  and  entertaining  to  the 
good  people  of  this  country  as  I  can,  I  propose  to  give  not  only  the 
most  material  articles  of  intelligence,  both  foreign  and  domestic,  which 
concern  the  political  state  of  the  world  ;  but  also  because  this  is  a  coun 
try,  that  has  yet,  through  the  mercy  of  God,  many  people  in  it,  that 
have  the  State  of  religion  in  the  world  very  much  at  heart,  and  would 
be  glad,  if  they  knew  how  to  order  their  prayers  and  praises  to  the 
Great  God  thereupon,  I  shall  endeavour,  now  and  then,  to  insert  an 
article  upon  the  state  of  religion.  I  shall,  therefore,  from  time  to  time, 
wait  upon  such  as  I  may  know  to  cultivate  a  correspondence  with  the 
most  eminent  persons  in  several  nations,  who  may  please  to  commu 
nicate  to  me,  and  thereby  to  the  public,  such  things  as  all  good  men 
cannot  but  receive  with  satisfaction. 

Agreeably  to  this  declaration,  several  succeeding 
papers  contained  a  column,  selected  from  various  publi 
cations,  of  matter  concerning  the  State  of  Religion. 
On  the  seventh  of  March,  following,  he  repeated  his 
intention,  somewhat  more  at  large,  as  follows  :  — 


The  design  of  this  paper  is  not  merely  to  amuse  the  render  : 
much  less  to  gratify  any  ill  tempers  by  reproach  or  ridicule,  to  promote 
contention,  or  espouse  any  party  among  us.  The  publisher,  on  the 
contrary,  laments  our  dangerous  and  unhappy  divisions  ;  and  he  would 
always  approve  himself  as  a  peaceable  friend  and  servant  to  all,  and 
unkind  to  none  ;  nor  would  he  ever  render  evil  for  evil,  either  by  action, 
speaking,  or  writing.  He  longs  for  the  blissful  times,  when  wars  shall 
cease  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  He  would  rather  endeavor  his  iitmost 
to  advance  an  universal  concord  and  harmony  ;  were  it  not  for  fear  of 
adding  oil  to  the  flames  ;  and  he  remembers  the  fable,  which  shows  him 
the  danger  of  interceding  between  fierce  and  contending  enemies.  The 
publisher  would  therefore  strive  to  oblige  all  his  readers  by  publishing 
those  transactions,  that  have  no  relation  to  any  of  our  quarrels,  and 
may  be  equally  entertaining  to  the  greatest  adversaries.  For  this  end 
he  proposes  to  extend  his  paper  to  The  History  of  Nature  among  us,  as 


BARTHOLOMEW    GREEN.  25 

well  as  of  Political  and  Foreign  Affairs.  And  agreeable  to  this  design, 
he  desires  all  ingenious  gentlemen,  in  every  part  of  the  country,  to 
communicate  the  remarkable  things  they  observe  ;  and  he  desires  them 
to  send  their  accounts  post-free,  and  nothing  but  what  they  assuredly 
know ;  and  they  shall  be  very  gratefully  received  and  published  .  That 
so  this  paper  may  in  some  degree  serve  for  the  Philosophical  Transac 
tions  of  New-England,  as  well  as  for  a  political  history ;  and  the  things 
worthy  of  recording  in  this,  as  well  as  other  parts  of  the  world,  may 
not  proceed  to  sink  into  eternal  oblivion,  as  they  have  done  in  all  the 
past  ages  of  the  aboriginal  and  ancient  inhabitants. 

Green  seldom  recorded  any  remarkable  occurrence 
that  he  did  not  accompany  the  narration  with  some 
reflections  of  a  moral  or  religious  character ;  as  in  the 
two  following  articles  :  — 

Boston,  Feb.  25.  Yesterday,  being  the  Lord's-Day,  the  Water  flowed 
over  our  "Wharffs  and  into  our  streets  to  a  very  surprizing  height.  They 
say  the  Tide  rose  20  Inches  higher  than  ever  was  known  before.  The 
Storm  was  very  strong  at  North-East.  The  many  great  Wharffs,  which 
since  the  last  overflowing  Tydes  have  been  run  out  into  the  Harbour, 
and  fill'd  so  great  a  part  of  the  Bason,  have  methinks  contributed  some 
thing  not  inconsiderable  to  the  rise  of  the  "Water  upon  us.  But  if  it  be 
found  that  in  other  Places  distant  from  us,  and  where  no  such  reason  as 
this  here  given  can  have  place,  the  waters  have  now  risen  in  like  pro 
portion  as  they  did  with  us ;  then  we  must  attribute  very  little  to  the 
reason  above  suggested.  The  loss  and  damage  sustained  is  very  great, 
and  the  little  Image  of  an  Inundation  which  we  had,  look'd  very  dread 
ful.  It  had  been  a  great  favour  to  the  town,  if  upon  the  first  Rising  of 
the  waters  in  the  Streets,  which  hapn'd  in  the  time  of  the  Fore-noon 
Service,  some  discreet  Persons  had  in  a  grave  and  prudent  manner 
inform'd  some  or  other  of  the  Congregations  of  it;  that  such  wiiose 
Houses  &  Stores  lay  most  exposed  might  have  repair'd  timely  to  them. 
The  reason  in  this  case  seems  the  same  as  if  there  had  been  a  Fire  in 
the  Town.  Let  us  fear  the  GOD  of  Heaven,  who  made  the  sea  and  the 
dry  land,  icho  commandeth  $~  raiseth  the  stormy  wind,  which  lifteth  up  the 
waves ;  who  ruleth  the  raging  of  the  sea,  and  when  the  leaves  thereof  arise, 
He  stilleth  them. 

Boston,  Oct.  29,  1730. 

Last  Thursday  evening  we  had  the  most  surprizing  appearance  of 
the  Aurora  Borealis,  as  'tis  thought  was  ever  beheld  here.    At  first  it 
3 


26  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

appeared  with  the  Northern  Twilight,  a  bright  flame  in  the  northern 
quarter  of  the  horizon.  About  half  an  hour  past  seven,  there  shot  up  a 
stream  which  collected  into  a  body,  and  seemed  to  hang  over  us  like  a 
cloud  of  fire.  This  lasted  a  few  minutes,  when  it  grew  fainter  till  it 
disappeared :  But  still  the  light  in  the  North  continued  so  bright,  that 
one  might  see  to  read  in  some  large  print.  About  nine  o'clock,  it 
increased  again,  and  the  Heavens  here  and  there  grew  luminous  and 
red.  At  twenty -four  minutes  after  nine,  a  light  was  observed  gathering 
in  the  N.  E.  which  moving  slowly  to  the  East,  began  to  glow  very  fierce. 
It  rose  leisurely,  and  at  last  crowded  into  a  centre  near  the  Zenith, 
whence  in  a  few  minutes  it  branched  out  all  over  the  northern  half  of 
the  hemisphere,  in  the  florid  and  sparkling  colors  of  many  rainbows. 
It  continued  for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  shifting  its  form  and  colors, 
and  then  by  degrees  grew  fainter,  till  it  quite  vanished.  For  the  remain 
der  of  the  night,  a  settled  lustre  dawned  round  the  northern  edges  of  the 
hemisphere,  which  kept  flashing  at  intervals,  till  it  was  lost  in  the  morn 
ing  light.  This  should  lead  our  thoughts  to  the  contemplation  of  that 
awful  night,  when,  the  Heavens  being  on  fire,  shall  be  dissolved,  and  the 
elements  shall  melt  with  fervent  heat;  when  our  blessed  SAVIOR  shall 
descend  in  flaming  fire,  in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  with  power  and  great  glory. 

Green  conducted  the  News-Letter  with  discretion,  and 
with  a  disposition  to  be  impartial,  conciliating  and  hon 
est,  that  renders  his  memory  venerable.  The  consum 
mation  of  his  labors  and  his  life  is  thus  announced  in 
the  News-Letter  of  January  4,  1733  :  — 

On  Thursday  last,  being  Dec.  28th,  deceased  here,  after  a  long  and 
painful  languishment  of  a  sore  that  broke  inwards,  Mr.  Bartholomew 
Green,  one  of  the  deacons  of  the  South  Church ;  who  has  been  the 
principal  Printer  of  this  town  and  country  near  forty  years.  He  died 
in  the  67th  year  of  his  age  ;  being  born  at  Cambridge,  Oct.  12,  1666  ; 
and  was  here  very  decently  interred  on  the  2d  current. 

His  father  was  Capt.  Samuel  Green,  the  famous  Printer  of  Cam 
bridge  ;  who  arrived  with  Governor  Winthrop  in  1 630.  He  came  in 
the  same  ship  with  the  Honorable  Thomas  Dudley,  Esq.,  and  used  to 
tell  his  children,  that  upon  their  first  coming  ashore,  both  he  and  several 
others  were  for  some  time  glad  to  lodge  in  empty  casks,  to  shelter  them 
from  the  weather,  for  want  of  housing.  This  Capt.  Green  was  a  com 
mission  officer  of  the  military  company  at  Cambridge,  who  chose  him 
for  above  sixty  years  together,  and  he  died  there,  Jan.  1,  1701 — 2,  aged 


JOHN     DRAPER.  27 

87,  highly  esteemed  and  beloved,  both  for  piety  and  a  martial  genius. 
He  took  such  great  delight  in  the  military  exercise,  that  the  arrival  of 
their  training-days  would  always  raise  his  joy  and  spirit ;  and  when  he 
was  grown  so  aged  that  he  could  riot  walk,  he  would  be  earned  out  in 
his  chair  into  the  field,  to  view  and  order  his  company.  He  had  nine 
teen  children,  eight  by  his  first  wife,  arid  eleven  by  his  second,  who  was 
a  daughter  of  the  venerable  Elder  Clarke,  of  Cambridge  :  of  which 
eleven  children  there  is  this  remarkable  ;  that,  though  two  died  young, 
yet  of  the  other  nine,  there  died  not  one  for  fifty-two  years ;  the  first 
breach  being  made  about  a  year  and  a  half  ago. 

This  Mr.  Green,  whose  loss  we  deplore,  first  set  up  his  press  with  his 
father  in  Cambridge,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Boston,  where,  on 
Sept.  16,  1690,  soon  after  he  was  first  married,  his  press  and  letters, 
which  were  then  esteemed  the  best  that  had  been  in  the  country,  were 
consiimed  by  a  fire  that  began  in  the  neighborhood :  upon  which  he 
returned  to  Cambridge,  and  there  continued  till  the  winter  1692,3; 
when  he  came  back  to  Boston  ;  where  he  has  been  Printer  to  the  Gov 
ernor  and  Council  for  near  forty  years,  and  of  the  Boston  News-Letter 
(excepting  a  small  intermission)  from  its  beginning:  And  for  his  par 
ticular  character  —  as  the  author  of  the  Weekly  Journal  has  very  justly 
observed,  "  He  was  a  person  generally  known  and  esteemed  among  us, 
as  a  very  humble  and  exemplary  Christian,  one  who  had  much  of  that 
primitive  Christianity  in  him,  which  has  always  been  the  distinguishing 
glory  of  New-England."  We  may  further  remember  his  cminency 
for  a  strict  observing  the  Sabbath ;  his  household  piety ;  his  keeping 
close  and  diligent  to  the  work  of  his  calling ;  his  meek  and  peaceable 
spirit ;  his  caution  of  publishing  any  thing  offensive,  light,  or  hurtful ; 
and  his  tender  sympathy  to  the  poor  and  afflicted.  He  began  to  be 
pious  in  the  days  of  his  youth ;  and  he  would  always  speak  of  the 
wonderful  spirit  of  piety  that  then  prevailed  in  the  land,  with  a  singular 
pleasure. 

The  same  paper  contains  the  advertisement  of  John 
Draper, — the  son-in-law  of  Green,  —  informing  the 
public,  that  the  News-Letter  would  be  carried  on  and 
sent  out  every  week  on  Thursday  morning,  as  usual  ;  — 
that  care  would  be  constantly  taken  to  insert  therein  all 
the  most  remarkable  occurrences,  both  foreign  and 
domestic,  that  come  to  hand  well  attested  ;  —  that  all 
communications  from  the  reverend  ministers,  or  other 
gentlemen,  would  be  thankfully  received  ;  —  and  that  it 


28  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

would  be  his  endeavor  to  render  the  paper  as  informing 
and  entertaining  as  possible,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
who  may  encourage  it. 

Under  the  hands  of  Draper,  the  News-Letter  main 
tained  the  respectable  character  it  had  acquired  while  in 
the  care  of  Green.  The  selections  from  foreign  journals 
were  copious  and  interesting  ;  and  his  own  summary  of 
passing  events,  under  the  Boston  head,  was  as  full,  prob 
ably,  as  circumstances  and  material  permitted.  Com 
munications  were  not  frequent ;  but  there  is  one,  which 
occupies  about  five  pages  of  the  News-Letter,  in  five  or 
six  successive  numbers,  and  affords  an  evidence  of  the 
veneration,  which,  at  that  day,  was  attached  to  the  New- 
England  version  of  the  Psalms.  It  is  a  criticism  on  the 
version  of  Tate  and  Brady,  which,  it  seems,  had  just 
then,  —  in  1739,  —  made  its  appearance  in  Boston. 
The  critic  is,  occasionally,  quite  severe  upon  those  two 
Poets,  and  adduces  various  passages,  to  show  that  their 
version  is  an  essential  departure  from  the  simplicity,  and 
often  from  the  meaning,  of  the  original.  In  their  ver 
sion  of  Psalm  VI.  they  use  the  phrase  "  a  wretch  for 
lorn."  The  critic  says,  —  "  1.  There  is  nothing  of  this, 
either  in  the  original  or  the  English  Psalter.  2.  'Tis  a 
low  expression  ;  and,  to  add  a  low  one,  is  less  allowable. 
But  3,  what  I  am  most  concerned  for  is,  that  'twill  be 
apt  to  make  our  children  think  of  the  line  in  their  vul 
gar  petty-song,  so  much  like  it  —  This  is  the  maiden  all 
forlorn,  &ic." 

The  following  lines  of  Tate  and  Brady,  — 

No  longer  let  the  wicked  Vaunt, 

And  proudly  boasting  say, 
Tush,  God  regards  not  what  we  do  — 

give  the  critic  an   opportunity  to  make   the   following 


RICHARD    DRAPER.  29 

remarks,  the  propriety  of  which  will  encounter  no  objec 
tion  :  — 

Vaunt  is  a  word  so  antiquated,  that  there  are  not  ten  in  fifty,  that 
know  what  it  means.  It  might  have  been  well  enough  used  a  hundred 
years  ago,  when  our  NeAV-England  Psalm  Book  was  composed  ;  but  is 
too  old-fashioned  to  put  into  a  new  performance,  for  the  use  of  a  com 
mon  auditory  in  the  present  age.  Besides,  what  difference  is  there 
between  vaunting  and  proudly  boasting  ?  [as  it  is  in  the  original.]  It  is 
perfectly  tautologous. 

But  to  hear  a  man  cry  TUSH,  in  a  prayer  to  GOD,  you  would  think 
him  extreamly  impolite,  or  vain,  or  beside  himself.  How  much  more 
oddly  will  this  sound  in  the  midst  of  the  devotions  of  a  great  assembly  ? 
To  hear  them,  both  men  and  women,  singing  T-U-U-U-SH,  whether  Tre 
ble,  Base,  or  Tenor ;  'twill  be  difficult  for  the  more  lively  part  of  the 
congregation  to  keep  from  smiling.  And  the  idea  this  raises  in  me  is  so 
disagreeable,  that  I  should  not  wonder  if  this  were  called  the  Tusk 

Version. 

• 

• '  V.  A    '-*  7  /•  (  j     j  !  I ;  j    /  }  >  V 
Draper  published  the  News-Letter  till  near  the  close  of 

the  year  176*2.  The  paper  of  December  2,  announces 
that,  on  the  Monday  preceding,  he  died  after  a  slow  and 
hectic  disorder,  having  just  entered  the  61st  year  of  his 
age.  The  notice  adds,  —  "  By  his  industry,  fidelity,  and 
prudence  in  his  business,  he  rendered  himself  very 
agreeable  to  the  public.  His  charity  and  benevolence  ; 
his  pleasant  and  sociable  turn  of  mind  ;  his  tender  affec 
tion  as  a  husband  and  parent ;  his  piety  and  devotion  to 
his  Maker,  has  made  his  death  as  sensibly  felt  by  his 
friends  and  relations,  as  his  life  is  worthy  imitation." 

The  same  paper  informs  the  public  that  the  business 
of  the  late  publisher  devolved  upon  Richard  Draper, 
son  of  the  deceased.  The  title  was  changed  to  The 
Boston  Weekly  News-Letter  and  New-England  Chron 
icle.  The  next  year  it  was  again  changed  to  The 
Massachusetts  Gazette  and  Boston  News-Letter.  The 


30  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

proprietor  took  into  partnership  a  kinsman,  —  Samuel 
Draper,  —  and  the  imprint  announced  that  the  paper 
was  "  Published  by  Richard  Draper,  Printer  to  the 
Governor  and  Council,  and  by  Samuel  Draper,  at  their 
Printing-Office  in  Newbury-street."  Samuel  Draper 
died,  in  March,  1769,  and  the  paper  was  again  con 
ducted  by  Richard  Draper  alone. 

In  May,  1768,  the  News-Letter  and  a  paper  published 
by  Green  &  Russell,  called  the  Boston  Post  Boy  and 
Advertiser,  were  united,  as  official  organs  of  the  govern 
ment,  under  the  title  of  the  Massachusetts  Gazette. 
The  business  was  so  arranged,  that  each  paper  was  still 
a  separate  publication,  belonging  exclusively  to  its  pro 
prietor.  The  News-Letter  was  published  on  Thursday 
and  the  Post-Boy  on  Monday.  Each  paper  was  equally 
divided  in  two  parts,  —  one  half  bearing  its  proper  title, 
and  the  other  half  of  both  papers  was  called  the  Mas 
sachusetts  Gazette,  "  published  by  authority."  This  half 
of  both  papers  contained  the  acts  and  proceedings  of 
government,  and  the  matter  was  nearly  identical  in  both  ; 
while  the  contents  of  the  other  half  were  varied  accord 
ing  to  the  fancy  and  interest  of  the  respective  proprie 
tors.  This  mode  of  publication  was  discontinued  in 
September,  1769,  and  Draper  resumed  the  former  title, 
—  Massachusetts  Gazette  and  Boston  Weekly  News- 
Letter.* 

After  the  discontinuance  of  this  "  Adam  and  Eve 
paper,"  as  Draper  called  it,  he  published  the  News-Let 
ter  alone,  till  May,  1774.  During  this  period,  it  was 
well  supplied  with  communications  by  able  writers,  who 

*  See  History  of  Printing,  vol.  ii.  207  -  209. 


RICHARD    DRAPER.  31 

adhered  to  the  administration,  and  opposed  the  Whigs 
with  the  best  arguments  they  could  produce,  —  not 
unfrequently  in  sober  earnest,  but  as  often  by  effusions 
of  wanton  ridicule  or  cold-hearted  bitterness.  The  pro 
ceedings  of  public  meetings  were  usually  published, 
without  doubt  as  a  measure  of  policy,  to  keep  the 
friends  of  the  government  informed  of  the  movements  of 
the  Whigs.  In  the  paper  of  June  4,  1765,  are  the 
Instructions  voted  by  the  town  of  Worcester  to  Joshua 
Bigelow,  their  representative  in  the  General  Court, 
then  sitting  in  Boston.  These  Instructions  require  of 
the  Representative  that  he  should  use  his  influence  to 
maintain  and  continue  that  harmony  and  good  will 
between  Great-Britain  and  this  province,  that  may  be 
most  conducive  to  the  prosperity  of  each,  and  suffer  no 
innovations  or  encroachments  on  our  chartered  rights :  — 
That  he  should  use  his  influence  to  obtain  a  law  to  put 
an  end  to  that  unchristian  and  impolitic  practice  of 
making  slaves  of  the  human  species,  and  that  he  give 
his  vote  for  none  to  serve  in  His  Majesty's  Council,  who 
will  use  their  influence  against  such  a  law: — That  he 
should  use  his  influence  to  establish  the  Fee  Table  on 
principles  more  agreeable  to  the  rules  of  justice  :  —  That 
he  should  use  his  endeavors  "  to  relieve  the  people,  of 
this  province  from  the  great  burden  of  supporting  Latin 
Grammar  Schools,  whereby  they  are  prevented  from 
attaining  such  a  degree  of  English  learning  as  is  neces 
sary  to  retain  the  freedom  of  any  state  " :  —  That  he 
should  make  diligent  inquiry  into  the  cause  of  the  neglect 
of  the  militia  of  the  province:  —  And,  lastly,  that  he 
should  "take  SPECIAL  CARE  of  the  LIBERTY  or  THE 
PRESS." 


32  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

No  opposition  to  the  Stamp  Act  was  made  by  Dra 
per.  The  officers  of  the  government  were  sustained 
and  encouraged,  both  in  the  News-Letter  and  the 
Gazette.  The  intelligence  of  the  repeal  of  the  act  was 
received  in  Boston,  on  the  16th  of  May,  1766.  The 
following  account  of  the  reception  was  given  in  the 
Gazette,  and  is  substantially  the  same  as  that,  which 
appeared  in  the  other  papers :  — 

Friday  last,  to  the  inexpressible  joy  of  all,  we  received  by  Capt. 
Coffin  the  important  news  of  the  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act ;  *  *  * 
upon  which  the  bells  in  the  town  were  set  a  ringing,  the  ships  in  the  har 
bor  displayed  their  colors,  guns  were  discharged  in  different  parts  of 
the  town,  and  in  the  evening  were  several  bonfires.  According  to  a 
previous  vote  of  the  town,  the  Selectmen  met  in  the  afternoon  at  Fan- 
ueil  Hall,  and  appointed  Monday  last  for  a  day  of  general  rejoicings  on 
that  happy  occasion.  The  morning  was  ushered  in  with  music,  ringing 
of  bells,  and  the  discharge  of  cannon,  the  ships  in  the  harbor  and  many 
of  the  houses  in  town  being  adorned  with  colors.  — Joy  smiled  in  every 
countenance,  Benevolence,  Gratitude,  and  Content  seemed  the  com 
panions  of  all.  By  the  generosity  of  some  gentlemen,  remarkable  for 
their  humanity  and  patriotism,  our  Gaol  was  freed  of  debtors.  At  one 
o'clock  the  castle  and  batteries  and  train  of  artillery  fired  a  royal  salute, 
and  the  afternoon  was  spent  in  mirth  and  jollity.  In  the  evening  the 
whole  town  was  beautifully  illuminated  :  On  the  common  the  Sons  of 
Liberty  erected  a  magnificent  pyramid,  illuminated  with  two  hundred 
and  eighty  lamps,  the  four  upper  stories  of  which  were  ornamented  with 
the  figures  of  their  Majesties,  and  fourteen  of  the  worthy  Patriots,  who 
have  distinguished  themselves  by  their  love  of  liberty.  The  following 
lines  were  on  the  four  sides  of  the  next  apartment,  which  referred  to 
the  emblematical  figures  on  the  lower  story,  the  whole  supported  by  a 
large  base  of  the  Doric  order : 

O  Thou,  whom  next  to  Heaven  we  most  revere, 

Fair  LIBERTY  !  thou  lovely  goddess,  hear  ! 

Have  we  not  woo'd  thee,  won  thee,  held  thee  long, 

Lain  in  thy  lap,  and  melted  on  thy  tongue  ; 

Through  death  and  danger's  rugged  path  pursued, 

And  led  thee  smiling  to  this  SOLITUDE  ; 

Hid  thee  within  our  heart's  most  golden  cell, 

And  braved  the  Powers  of  Earth  and  Powers  of  Hell  ; 


RICHARD    DRAPER.  33 

GODDESS  !  we  cannot  part,  thou  must  not  fly  — 
Be  Slaves  —  AVC  dare  to  scorn  it  —  dare  to  die  — 

While  clanking  chains  and  curses  shall  salute 
Thine  ears,  remorseless  G — le,  thine  0  B — e  ; 
To  you,  blest  PATRIOTS  !  we  our  cause  submit, 
Illustrious  Camden,  Britain's  guardian  Pitt ; 
Recede  not,  frown  not,  rather  let  us  be 
Deprived  of  Being,  than  of  LIBERTY. 
Let  Fraud  or  Malice  blacken  all  our  crimes, 
No  disaffection  stains  these  peaceful  climes  5 
O  save  us,  shield  us  from  impending  woes, 
The  foes  of  Britain  only  are  our  foes. 

Boast,  foul  Oppression  !  boast  thy  transient  reign, 
While  honest  FREEDOM  struggles  with  the  chain ; 
But  know  the  Sons  of  Virtue,  hardy,  brave, 
Disdain  to  lose  through  mean  despair  to  save ; 
Aroused  in  thunder,  awful  they  appear, 
With  proud  Deliverance  stalking  in  their  rear ; 
While  tyrant  foes,  their  pallid  fears  betray, 
Shrink  from  their  arms,  and  give  their  vengeance  way : 
See  in  the  unequal  war  oppressors  fall, 
The  hate,  contempt,  and  endless  curse  of  all. 

Our  FAITH  approved,  our  LIBERTY  restored, 
Our  hearts  bend  grateful  to  our  sovereign  lord : 
Hail,  Darling  Monarch  !  by  this  act  endeared, 
Our  firm  affections  are  thy  best  reward. 
Should  Britain's  self  against  herself  divide, 
And  hostile  armies  frown  on  either  side,  — 
Should  hosts  rebellious  shake  our  Brunswick's  throne, 
And,  as  they  dared  thy  parent,  dare  thy  son, 
To  this  asylum  stretch  thy  happy  wing, 
And  we'll  contend  who  best  shall  love  our  KING. 

Meetings  of  ladies  were  frequently  held  in  the  prin 
cipal  towns  of  Massachusetts,  at  which  resolutions  were 
adopted,  expressing  a  determination  to  wear  no  articles 
of  dress  of  British  manufacture  In  reference  to  such 


34  BOSTON     NEWS-LETTER. 

resolutions,  one  of  Draper's  correspondents  indulged  bis 
wit  in  the  following  attempt  at  ridicule : 

TO   THE  LADIES. 

Young  Ladies  in  town  and  those  that  live  round, 
Let  a  friend  at  this  season  advise  you ; 
Since  money 's  so  scarce,  and  times  growing  worse, 
Strange  things  may  soon  hap  and  surprize  you  : 

First,  then,  throw  aside  your  top  knots  of  pride  : 
Wear  none  but  your  own  country  linen  : 
Of  economy  boast,  let  your  pride  be  the  most 
To  show  clothes  of  your  own  make  and  spinning. 

What  if  homespun  they  say  is  not  quite  so  gay 
As  brocades,  yet  be  not  in  a  passion, 
For  when  once  it  is  known  this  is  much  worn  in  town, 
One  and  all  will  cry  out  —  'Tis  the  fashion  ! 

And,  as  one,  all  agree,  that  you'll  not  married  be 
To  such  as  will  wear  London  factory, 
But  at  first  sight  refuse,  tell  'em  such  you  will  choose 
As  encourage  our  own  manufactory. 

No  more  ribbons  wear,  nor  in  rich  silks  appear ; 
Love  your  country  much  better  than  fine  things  ; 
Begin  without  passion,  't  will  soon  be  the  fashion 
To  grace  your  smooth  locks  with  a  twine  string. 

Throw  aside  your  Bohea  and  your  Green  Hyson  tea, 
And  all  things,  with  a  new-fashion  duty ; 
Procure  a  good  store  of  the  choice  Labradore, 
For  there'll  soon  be  enough  here  to  suit  you. 

These  do  without  fear,  and  to  all  you'll  appear 

Fair,  charming,  true,  lovely,  and  clever ; 

Though  the  times  remain  darkish,  young  men  may  be  sparkish, 

And  love  you  much  stronger  than  ever. 

Then  make  yourselves  easy,  for  no  one  will  teaze  ye, 
Nor  tax  you,  if  chancing  to  sneer 
At  the  sense-ridden  tools,  who  think  us  all  fools  ; 
But  they'll  find  the  reverse  far  and  near. 


RICHARD    DRAPER.  35 

It  would  be  unpardonable  to  pass  over,  without  trans 
cribing  the  following,  — which  presents  the  odious  vice  of 
drunkenness  in  its  true  light :  — 

EPITAPH. 

TEMPERATE  READER,  —  This  Tomb  thou  mayest  approach  without 
veneration,  and  this  Inscription  peruse  without  pity  for  the  subject  of  it ; 
for  here  are  only  confined  from  the  air,  which  they  would  pollute,  and 
from  the  sight,  which  they  would  offend,  the  odious  corrupted  remains 
of  one  of  the  most  ignoble  of  suicides,  a  sot ;  of  one,  who,  neither 
induced  by  external  solicitation  nor  encouraged  by  example,  nor  allured 
by  social  conversation,  equally  foolish  as  flagitious,  adopted  the  enor 
mity  of  excessive  drinking,  without  one  palliating  plea ;  and,  resigning 
to  others  the  apologies  for  and  the  pleasures  of  debauchery,  such  as 
they  are,  unnaturally  habituated  himself  to  sullen,  solitary,  joyless  inebri 
ation.  With  imagined  privacy,  he  persisted  in  swallowing  spiritous 
poison  to  his  health,  intellects  and  humanity,  till  he  became  the  wretched 
object  of  detestation,  or  of  contempt,  till  reduced  to  such  difficulties  of 
misery,  as  to  be  indebted  for  the  last  mitigation  of  his  pain  to  the 
causes  which  produced  it,  —  to  causes  which  he  acknowledged,  and 
which  he  execrated  as  fatal,  while  he  continued  them  to  the  hour  in 
which  they  proved  so.  Art  thou  inquisitive  for  his  motives,  however 
inexcusable,  to  an  indulgence  so  destructive,  be  assured  they  were  no 
better  than  the  preposterous  desires  of  expediting  the  lapse  of  that  time, 
which  he  had  not  the  resolution  to  improve,  and  of  reconciling  himself 
to  that  obscurity,  from  which  he  had  not  the  industry  to  emerge.  By 
his  life,  which  was  unhappy  without  consolation ;  by  his  death,  which 
was  early  but  unlamented,  be  once  more  admonished  to  reject  the  vicious 
insinuations  of  idleness  ;  be,  if  possible,  usefully  diligent ;  or,  at  least, 
having  nothing  to  do,  resist  the  temptation  to  do  what  may  be  worse  than 
nothing. 

From  the  News-Letter  of  March,  1769:  — 

ADVERTISEMENT.  The  Bell  Cart  will  go  through  Boston  before  the 
end  of  next  month,  to  collect  Rags  for  the  Paper- Mill  at  Milton,  when 
all  people  that  will  encourage  the  Paper  Manufactory,  may  dispose  of 
them.  They  are  taken  in  at  Mr.  Caleb  Davis's  Shop,  at  the  Fortifica 
tion  ;  Mr.  Andrew  Gillespie's,  near  Dr.  Clark's  ;  Mr.  Andras  Randalis, 
near  Phillips's  Wharf;  and  Mr.  John  Boies's  in  Long  Lane;  Mr. 
Frothingham's  in  Charlestown;  Mr.  Williams's  in  Marblehead ;  Mr. 


36  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

Edson's  in  Salem  ;  Mr.  John  Harris's  in  Newbury ;  Mr.  Daniel  Fowle's 
in  Portsmouth ;  and  at  the  Paper-Mill  in  Milton. 

Rags  are  as  beauties,  which  concealed  lie, 
But  when  in  Paper,  how  it  charms  the  eye : 
Pray  save  your  Rags,  new  beauties  to  discover, 
For  Paper  truly,  every  one  's  a  lover : 
By  the  Pen  and  Press  such  knowledge  is  displayed, 
As  would'nt  exist,  if  Paper  was  not  made, 
Wisdom  of  things,  mysterious,  divine, 
Illustriously  doth  on  Paper  shine. 

Two  numbers  only  of  the  News-Letter,  published 
during  the  siege,  have  I  been  able  to  find.  One  of 
them  is  the  publication  of  November  16,  1775.  It  is  a 
small  half  sheet,  one  side  of  which  is  nearly  filled  with 
the  proclamations  of  General  Howe.  The  first  is  "  A 
Proclamation  for  suppressing  Rebellion  and  Sedition," 
calling  upon  "  all  officers,  civil  as  well  as  military,  and 
all  other  obedient  and  loyal  subjects,  to  use  their  utmost 
endeavors,  to  withstand  and  suppress  rebellion,  and  to 
disclose  and  make  known  all  treasons  and  traitorous  con 
spiracies,  which  they  shall  know,"  &c.,  "  within  any  of 
the  Colonies  or  Plantations  in  North  America." 

The  second  recommended  that  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Boston  "  immediately  associate  themselves,  to 
be  formed  into  companies,  under  proper  officers,  selected 
by  me,  from  among  the  associates,  to  be  solely  employed 
within  the  precincts  of  the  town,"  for  the  "  preservation 
of  order  and  good  government  within  the  town."  The 
association  was  to  "  be  opened  in  the  Council  Chamber, 
under  the  direction  of  the  Honorable  Peter  Oliver,  Fos 
ter  Hutchinson,  and  William  Brown,  Esquires,  on  Mon 
day,  the  thirtieth  day  of  October,  and  continued  for  four 
days,  that  no  one  may  plead  ignorance  of  the  same." 


RICHARD    DRAPER.  37 

All  persons,  so  associating,  and  able  to  discharge  the 
duty  required  of  them,  were  to  be  "  properly  armed,  and 
to  have  an  allowance  of  fuel  and  provision,  equal  to 
what  was  issued  to  His  Majesty's  troops  within  the  gar 
rison." 

A  third  proclamation  prohibited  all  masters  of  vessels 
arriving  in  the  harbor  of  Boston,  not  under  the  immedi 
ate  command  of  Sir  Samuel  Graves,  from  landing  their 
cargoes,  without  permission,  and  prohibited  all  outward 
bound  masters  of  vessels  from  attempting  to  go  to  sea, 
without  first  giving  an  exact  account  of  their  cargoes. 
Disobedience  of  this  order  was  to  be  punished  with 
imprisonment. 

A  fourth  proclamation,  dated  the  sixth  of  November, 
omitting  the  descriptive  titles  and  offices  of  General 
Howe,  is  as  follows  :  — 

WHEREAS  the  present  and  approaching  distresses  of  many  of  the 
inhabitants  in  the  town  of  Boston,  from  the  scarcity  and  high  prices  of 
provisions,  fuel,  and  other  necessary  articles  of  life,  can  only  be  avoided, 
by  permitting  them  to  go  where  they  may  hope  to  procure  easier  means 
of  subsistence : 

NOTICE  is  hereby  given  that  all  those,  suffering  under  the  above- 
mentioned  circumstances,  who  chuse  to  depart  the  town,  may  give  in 
their  names  to  Captain  James  Urquhart,  Town  Major,  before  Thurs 
day,  twelve  o'clock  of  the  ninth  instant,  specifying  their  Names,  Abodes, 
Number  and  Names  of  those  in  Family,  Effects,  &c.,  that  Passes  may 
be  made  out,  conformable  to  regulations  already  established. 

Given  at  Head  Quarters,  $c. 

The  other  number  of  the  News-Letter,  mentioned 
above,  was  published  on  the  22d  of  February,  1776.  It 
affords  pretty  strong  evidence  of  the  disposition  of  the 
Tory  troops  and  the  Tory  citizens  to  indulge  in  frolic 
some  dissipation,  to  ridicule  the  patriotism  of  the  Whigs, 
and  to  abuse  and  calumniate  the  leadino1  men  of  the 

O 

Whig  party.     The  first  article  in  the  paper  is  a  notice 
VOL.   i.  4 


38  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

that  "  the  fourth  subscription  ball  at  Concert-Hall  is  to 
be  held  on  the  29th  instant,   1776."     This  is  followed 
by  another  special  notice,  as  follows :  — 
MASQUERADE. 

On  Monday,  the  llth  of  March  will  be  given  at  Concert-Hall,  a 
SUBSCRIPTION  MASKED  BALL.  By  the  sixth  of  March  a  Number  of 
Different  Masks  will  be  prepared,  and  sold  by  almost  all  the  Milliners 
and  Mantua  Makers  in  Town. 

Under  the  Boston  head,  the  editor  says,  —  "  We  hear 
ten  Capital  Cooks  are  already  engaged  in  preparing  sup 
per  for  the  Masquerade,  which  is  to  be  the  most  brilliant 
Thing  ever  seen  in  America."  This  was,  probably,  the 
last  of  a  series  of  entertainments,  —  insulting  to  the  suf 
fering  inhabitants  of  Boston,  —  as  the  town  was  evacu 
ated  by  the  British  troops  a  few  days  afterward,  and 
occupied  by  General  Washington  and  the  American 
Army. 

The  following  article,  in  the  same  paper,  is  introduced 
by  its  author,  as  "  An  Epilogue  to  the  many  tragic 
scenes  recorded  in  the  weekly  publications  ; "  and  is 
given  as  a  companion  to  "  the  Prologue  to  a  tragedy 
acted  in  Boston,"  which  appeared  in  the  News-Letter  of 
the  eighth  :  — 

The  SOLILOQUY 

OF 

The   BOSTON   TKEE   of  LIBERTY, 

As  they  were  cutting  it  down,  1776. 
And  must  I  die  ?  —  but  why  complain  ? 
Complaints  and  murmerings  are  in  vain : 
Tis  but  the  lot  of  beast  and  man, 
And  die  we  must,  do  what  we  can. 
My  ancestors  for  centuries  stood 
The  pride  and  honor  of  the  wood ; 
A  royal  race,  a  chosen  band, 
The  ornaments  of  Shawmut  land. 
For  centuries  they  yearly  shed, 
The  leafy  honors  of  their  head ; 


RICHARD    DRAPER.  39 

At  each  returning  spring  reviv'd 
Their  wonted  vigor,  grew  and  thriv'd : 
Of  wintry  blasts  they  stood  the  shock, 
The  tempests  as  they  rag'd,  they'd  mock ; 
The  rude  attacks  of  winds  which  blew 
They  faced  them  all  and  healthier  grew, 
Th'  uncultur'd  Indian,  nature's  care, 
Did  often  to  their  shades  repair 
Himself  to  cool  and  to  refresh, 
Regaling  on  the  fish  and  flesh 
Which  nature  generously  gave, 
Free  from  the  cheat  of  cultur'd  knave, 
Here  he  enjoy'd  his  simple  fare, 
Enjoy'd  his  sleep,  unpress'd  by  care, 
'Till  European  strangers  came 
With  stealth,  and  robb'd  him  of  his  game  ; 
He  hunted  beasts  —  they  hunted  men, 
He  fled  and  ne'er  return'd  again. 

How  happy  is  the  Indian's  lot ! 
Few  cares  he  knows,  they  soon  forgot : 
No  Av'rice  with  her  griping  paw, 
No  worries  from  the  dogs  of  law ; 
In  friendship  such  as  nature  grants, 
He  lives,  and  very  few  his  wants  : 
Grateful  on  nature's  bounty  looks, 
Quenches  his  thirst  at  nature's  brooks. 

My  parent  dy'd  when  nature  bid, 
I  spread  my  grandeur  in  his  stead. 
'Twas  when  that  civil  creature,  man, 
Unciviliz'd  fair  nature's  plan, 
To  flourish  then  it  was  my  luck 
When  civil  folks  at  nothing  stuck, 
But  would  in  mobs  collect  together, 
And  nought  went  down  but  tar  and  feather ; 
Ah,  me  !  unhappy !  —  'twas  my  fate, 
T'  outlive  the  ruin  of  the  state. 

Tis  true  I  flourished  many  a  year, 
And  spread  my  branches  full  and  fair : 
My  body  large  and  hale  and  plump, 
Fair  all  around  from  top  to  stump, 
Till  that  fierce  creature  huge  of  size, 
With  hundred  heads  and  saucer  eyes, 


40  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

Christen'd  by  name  of  Liberty, 
Repair'd  with  boisterous  crouds  to  me, 
And  for  their  god  they  chose  a  tree. 

'Twas  then  I  first  knew  what  was  pain, 
First  knew  that  godliness  was  gain : 
Under  my  shade  my  vot'ries  met, 
In  weather  cold,  hot,  dry  or  wet  — 
With  flaming  zeal  they  throng'd  my  body 
Inspired  with  rum  and  gin  and  toddy : 
On  me  they  hung  a  jockey's  boot, 
And  gather'd  thick  about  my  root ; 
They  stifled  me  with  sweat  and  stench, 
And  from  me  did  my  branches  wrench  ; 
A  massy  pole  they  then  erected, 
And  with  a  rebel  standard  deck'd  it, 
To  make  the  rabble  gape  and  stare, 
Fling  up  their  caps  and  roar  and  swear. 
The  pole  it  gall'd  my  body  sore, 
Chaff 'd  off  my  bark,  —  my  branches  tore. 
A  copper  plate  they  nail'd  fast  to  me, 
And    *    *    *    *    right  through  me .* 
My  juices  by  such  usage  thicken'd 
The  circulation  stop'd,  I  sicken'd, 
My  branches  they  decay'd  apace, 
I  found  I'd  almost  ran  my  race, 
Should  soon  be  forc'd,  as  mankind  must, 
To  lay  my  honors  in  the  dust. 

Thanks  to  the  hand  that  cuts  me  down, 
Thanks  to  the  axe  that  lops  my  crown : 
The  path  of  vice  I  never  trod, 
I  boast,  I  liv'd  the  people's  god. 

My  trunk,  may  't  be  to  fuel  turn'd 
By  HOWE,  be  honor'd  to  be  burn'd 
That  I  to  him  may  warmth  impart, 
Who  oft  himself  's  warm'd  many  a  heart. 

If  ever  there  should  be  a  shoot, 
Spring  from  my  venerable  root, 
Prevent,  oh  heav'n !  it  ne'er  may  see, 
Such  savage  times  of  liberty : 

*  The  words  here  wanting  have  been  obliterated  by  the  wear  of  the  paper. 


RICHARD    DRAPER.  41 

May  it  live  long  to  see  those  times 
When  justice  dares  to  punish  crimes  ; 
When  GEORGE  may  see  his  laws  regarded, 
And  feel  his  virtues  all  rewarded : 
Live  to  rule  over  subjects  loyal 
And  live  reverd,  respected  by  all. 
Still  in  his  sphere  of  virtue  move, 
And  feel  returns  of  filial  love ; 
Trample,  rebellion  under  foot, 
And  crush  the  monster,  branch  and  root ; 
Quell  Tylers,  Cades  and  Massianellos 
Who  sweat  at  puffing  treason's  bellows. 
From  giving  shades  to  mobs  I  go, 
Their  future  shades  are  sliades  below. 

But  the  most  atrociously  malignant  article,  that  I  have 
found  in  the  News-Letter,  is  the  following,  taken,  it  is 
said,  from  the  London  Gazetteer,  of  September  20,  but 
written,  unquestionably,  as  the  signature  indicates,  by  a 
Boston  Tory :  — 

In  the  beginning  of  August,  a  King's  ship  at  Rhode-Island  intercept 
ed  a  large  packet  of  letters  designed  for  the  rebel  Army. 

Three  of  these  letters  were  printed  by  order  of  the  Admiral.  The 
first  of  these  letters,  addressed  to  General  Washington,  is  exceedingly 
curious.  We  are  informed  by  it  that  the  rebels  are  but  indifferent  sol 
diers  ;  that  they  are  very  deficient  in  stores  ;  and  in  particular,  that  they 
had  not  one  engineer. 

Whatever  the  pious  Mr.  Benjamin  Harrison,  one  of  the  Virginia 
delegates,  may  say  of  the  intentions  of  Capt.  Meredith,  it  is  certain  he 
attempted  to  murder  Lord  Dunmore,  by  firing  at  the  boat,  in  which  his 
Lordship  escaped. 

The  moral  and  virtuous  Mr.  Benjamin  Harrison  exhibits  to  us  a  strik 
ing  picture  of  American  hypocrisy  and  impiety ;  for,  whilst  he  and  his 
rebel  brethren  of  the  Congress  are  incessantly  clamoringt  *  *  *  =* 
*  *  *  to  conduct  them  to  victory,  he  is  at  the  same  time  debauching 
all  the  pretty  girls  in  his  neighborhood,  on  purpose  to  raise  a  squadron 
of  whores  to  keep  his  old  General  warm  during  his  winter  quarters. 

The  second  letter  is  from  another  of  the  rebel  Congress,  Mr.  John 
Adams,  a  delegate  from  Massachusetts.  He,  good  soul,  makes  his  wife 
his  confidant,  and  speaks  with  great  vexation  of  mind  of  the  fidgets, 

t  Part  of  a  line  worn  off  by  a  fold  in  the  paper. 

4* 


42  BOSTON    NEWS-LETTER. 

whims,  caprices,  vanity,  superstition,  and  irritability  of  his  brethren 
the  wise  men  of  America  assembled  together  in  Congress. 

The  third  letter  is  from  the  same  hand  to  Colonel  Warren,  President 
of  the  Massachusetts  Congress.  In  the  beginning  of  his  letter  he 
severely,  but  justly  remarks  on  the  weakness  of  Hancock,  the  President  of 
the  wise  men  ;  and  honestly  confesses  that  all  of  them  are  so  confound 
ed  with  business  in  which  they  have  involved  themselves,  that  they 
hardly  know  what  they  are  doing,  or  what  to  do.  It  is,  doubtless,  a 
puzzling  affair  to  establish  a  treasury  without  any  money.  As  he  be 
gan  with  criticism,  he  finishes  in  the  same  stile.  Warren  'had  written 
to  him  the  same  oddities  of  General  Lee ;  to  which  the  Braintree  Law 
yer  replies,  that  the  old  General  is  a  queer  creature,  and  advises  his 
friend  to  love  the  General's  dogs. 

It  has  become  fashionable  in  America  for  the  Saints  to  have  their 
procurers  and  their  Dalilahs.  Whilst  the  General  is  fighting  the  Lord's 
battles  in  Massachusetts,  his  procurer,  the  holy  Mr.  Benjamin  Harrison, 
is  fitting  pretty  little  Kate,  his  washerwoman's  daughter,  for  the  Lord's 
General.  Even  Hancock,  who  presides  over  and  directs  the  collective 
wisdom  and  virtue  of  all  America,  travels  with  a  VESTAL  in  his  train. 
He  himself  can  never  Jit  her  for  the  General,  though  pious  Benjamin, 
the  procurer-general  to  the  Congress,  may. 

A  BOSTON  SAINT. 

Richard  Draper  continued  the  sole  proprietor  and 
conductor  of  the  News-Letter  till  May,  1774,  and  devot 
ed  it  to  the  maintenance  of  the  British  sovereignty,  and 
the  defence  of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  British  troops 
in  Boston.  In  that  month,  he  took  in  John  Boyle  as  a 
partner.  Boyle  was  a  native  of  Marblehead,  and  served 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  printing  business  under  Green 
&  Russell.  This  partnership  was  of  short  duration. 
Draper  died  on  the  sixth  of  June  following.  Margaret, 
his  widow,  in  partnership  with  Boyle,  carried  on  the 
business  for  a  few  months,  when  Boyle,  finding  his  con 
nection  with  a  Tory  newspaper  not  quite  pleasant  to 
himself  nor  agreeable  to  his  friends,  left  the  concern. 
His  place  in  the  firm  was  supplied  by  the  admission  of 
John  Howe,  as  a  partner,  by  whom  the  paper  was  con- 


JOHN    HOWE.  43 

ducted,  till  the  town  was  evacuated  by  the  British  troops, 
in  March,  1776.  With  the  termination  of  the  siege, 
the  News-Letter  was  discontinued,  and  never  after 
revived.  It  was  the  only  paper  printed  in  Boston 
during  the  siege.  It  was  published,  without  interrup 
tion,  for  a  period  of  seventy-two  years. 

Before  he  became  connected  with  Draper,  Boyle  had 
a  printing-office  of  his  own.  He  began  business,  as  a 
printer  and  bookseller,  and  published  a  few  books. 
When  he  retired  from  the  partnership,  he  resumed  the 
business  of  printing  and  bookselling,  but  soon  after  sold 
his  printing  materials,  and  confined  himself  entirely  to 
the  selling  of  books  and  stationery.  He  kept,  from  the 
commencement  of  business  on  his  own  account  to  the 
close  of  his  life,  in  Marlboro'-street,  a  few  doors  north  of 
Bromfield-street.  He  died  in  1619. 

John  Howe  was  a  native  of  Boston,  and  there  served 
an  apprenticeship  to  a  printer.  "His  father  was  a 
tradesman,  and  kept  in  MarshalFs-lane."  *  He  was 
quite  a  young  man,  when  he  connected  himself  with  the 
News-Letter.  He,  with  his  partner,  Mrs.  Draper,  left 
Boston  with  the  British  troops,  and  went  with  them  to 
Halifax,  where  he  printed  a  newspaper,  and  was  printer 
to  the  government.  He  also  had  an  office  of  some 
emolument,  and  was  connected  with  the  colonial  admin 
istration.  He  died  about  the  year  1320. 

Margaret  Draper  remained  but  a  short  time  in  Halifax. 
She  went  thence  to  England,  and  received  a  pension 
from  the  British  government,  and  enjoyed  it  till  her 
death,  which  happened  since  the  beginning  of  the  pres 
ent  century. 

*  History  of  Printing,  vol  i.  384. 


44 


THE   BOSTON    GAZETTE. 


IN  the  year  1719,  William  Brooker  was  appointed 
Postmaster  of  Boston.  On  the  21st  of  December  he 
published  the  first  number  of  a  paper,  entitled  The  Bos 
ton  Gazette,  and  to  the  title  was  added,  "  Published  by 
Authority."  The  head  was  decorated  with  two  cuts,  a 
copy  of  one  of  which  is  here  given  ;  —  the  other  was  the 
representation  of  a  ship  under  full  sail.  A  notice  on  the 
first  page,  dated  at  the  Post-Office,  says,  —  "  The  pub 
lishing  of  this  paper  has  been  in  compliance  with  the 
desires  of  several  of  the  merchants  and  others  of  this 
town,  as  also  at  the  repeated  instances  of  those  people 
that  live  remote  from  home,  who  have  been  prevented 
from  having  their  News  Paper  sent  them  by  the  Post, 
ever  since  Mr.  Campbell  was  removed  from  being  Post 
master."  From  which,  it  is  presumed  that  Campbell 
was  so  angry  at  his  removal,  that  he  refused  to  supply 
his  customers  by  the  mails.  The  character  and  style  of 


KNEELAND  AND  GREEN.  45 

Campbell's  reply  may  be  inferred  from  the  rejoinder  of 
Brooker,  which  appeared  on  the  llth  of  January  :  — 

The  good  manners  and  caution  that  has  been  observed  in  writing  this 
paper,  'twas  hoped  would  have  prevented  any  occasion  for  controversies 
of  this  kind ;  but  finding  a  very  particular  advertisement  published  by 
Mr.  Campbell  in  his  Boston  News-Letter  of  the  4th  current,  lays  me 
under  an  absolute  necessity  of  giving  the  following  answer  thereunto. 

Mr.  Campbell  begins  in  saying,  The  Nameless  Author  —  Intimating 
as  if  the  not  mentioning  the  author's  name  was  a  fault :  But  if  he  will 
look  over  the  papers  wrote  in  England,  (such  as  the  London  Gazette, 
Postman,  and  other  papers  of  reputation)  he  will  find  their  authors  so. 
As  this  part  of  his  advertisement  is  not  very  material,  I  shall  say  no 
more  thereon ;  but  proceed  to  matters  of  more  moment.  Mr.  Camp 
bell  seems  somewhat  displeased  that  the  author  says  he  was  removed 
from  being  Postmaster.  I  do  hereby  declare  I  was  the  person  that 
wrote  the  said  Preamble,  as  he  calls  it;  and  think  I  could  not  have 
given  his  being  turned  out  a  softer  epithet.  And  to  convince  him  (and 
all  mankind)  that  it  was  so,  I  shall  give  the  following  demonstrations 
of  it. 

Many  months  before  John  Hamilton,  Esq.  Deputy-Postmaster-Gen 
eral  of  North- America  displaced  the  said  Campbell,  he  received  letters 
from  the  secretary  of  the  Right  Honorable  the  Postmaster-General  of 
Great  Britain,  &c.  that  there  had  been  several  complaints  made  against 
him,  and  therefore  the  removal  of  him  from  being  Postmaster  was 
thought  necessary.  Mr.  Hamilton  for  some  time  delayed  it,  'till  on  the 
13th  of  September,  1718,  he  appointed  me  to  succeed  him,  with  the 
same  salary  and  other  just  allowances,  according  to  the  establishment  of 
the  office ;  and  if  Mr.  Campbell  had  any  other,  they  were  both  unjust 
and  unwarrantable,  and  he  ought  not  to  mention  them.  As  soon  as  I 
was  put  in  possession  of  the  office,  Mr.  Hamilton  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
Right  Honorable  the  Postmaster-General,  acquainting  him  that  he  had 
removed  Mr.  Campbell  and  appointed  me  in  his  room. 

Mr.  Campbell  goes  on :  saying,  /  was  superseded  by  Mr.  Musgrave 
from  England.  To  make  him  appear  also  mistaken  in  this  point :  Mr. 
Hamilton  not  displacing  him  as  soon  as  was  expected,  the  Right  Hon 
orable  the  Postmaster-General  appointed  Mr.  Phillip  Musgrave,  by  their 
deputation  dated  June  27,  1718,  to  be  their  Deputy-Postmaster  of  Bos 
ton  ;  and  in  a  letter  brought  by  him  from  the  Right  Honorable  the  Post 
master-General  to  John  Hamilton,  Esq.  mention  is  made,  that  for  the 
many  complaints  that  were  made  against  Mr.  Campbell,  they  had  thought 
it  fit  to  remove  him,  and  appoint  Mr.  Musgrave  in  his  stead,  who  was 


46  BOSTON    GAZETTE. 

nominated  Postmaster  of  Boston  almost  three  months  before  I  succeed 
ed  Mr.  Campbell,  which  has  obliged  me  to  make  it  appear  that  he  was 
either  removed,  turned  out,  displaced,  or  superseded. 

The  last  thing  I  am  to  speak  to,  is,  Mr.  Campbell  says,  it  is  amiss  to 
represent  that  people  remote  have  been  prevented  from  having  the  News-Pa 
per.  I  do  pray  he  will  again  read  over  my  introduction,  and  then  he 
will  find  there  is  no  word  there  advanced  that  will  admit  of  such  an 
interpretation . 

There  is  nothing  herein  contained  but  what  is  unquestionably  true ; 
therefore  I  shall  take  my  leave  of  him,  wishing  him  all  desirable  success 
in  his  agreeable  News-Letter,  assuring  him  I  have  neither  capacity  nor  in 
clination  to  answer  any  more  of  his  like  Advertisements. 

With  the  office  of  postmaster,  the  Boston  Gazette 
passed  into  the  possession  of  Philip  Musgrave,  a  few 
weeks  after  its  first  publication.  In  1726,  it  went  into 
the  hands  of  another  postmaster,  Thomas  Lewis,  and 
the  next  year,  it  became  the  property  of  a  third  post 
master,  Henry  Marshall.  It  was  printed  for  him  till  his 
death,  in  1732.  John  Boy  dell  succeeded  Marshall  in 
the  post-office,  and  kept  possession  of  the  Gazette,  till 
he  died  in  December,  1739.  It  was  printed  for  his  heirs 
till  October,  1741,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Kneeland 
and  Green,  and  incorporated  with  the  New-England 
Weekly  Journal.  The  publication,  under  the  title  of 
The  Boston  Gazette  and  Weekly  Journal,  was  continued 
by  them  till  the  dissolution  of  their  partnership,  in  1752, 
twenty-five  years  after  the  first  publication  of  the 
Journal. 

A  few  months  after  the  discontinuance  of  this  paper, 
and  the  dissolution  of  the  partnership  of  Kneeland  & 
Green,  Kneeland  issued  another  paper,  under  the  title  of 
The  Boston  Gazette,  or  Weekly  Advertiser.  The  first 
number  was  published,  January  3,  1753.  It  was  print 
ed  in  the  quarto  form,  on  the  type  that  had  been  used 
for  the  Gazette  and  Journal,  and  was  spoken  of  in  the 


JOHN    BOYDELL,    B.    GREEN,    JUN.  47 

opening  advertisement,  as  a  continuation  of  that  paper. 
Kneeland  did  not  put  his  name  in  the  imprint  till  the 
second  year  of  its  publication,  and  at  the  end  of  that 
year,  the  publication  ceased,  on  account  of  the  provin 
cial  stamp-act,  and  was  never  revived. 

Of  the  four  postmasters,  who  in  succession  were  pro 
prietors  of  the  Boston  Gazette,  I  have  obtained  no 
information  of  the  first  three,  but  what  is  embraced  in 
the  preceding  brief  and  barren  sketch.  Of  the  fourth, 
there  is  the  following  notice  in  the  Gazette  of  Decem 
ber  17,  1739:- 

On  Tuesday  last,  died  here,  in  the  forty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  John 
Boydell,  Esq.  late  publisher  of  this  paper,  and  sometime  deputy-post 
master  within  this  and  the  three  neighboring  governments  :  than  whom 
none  ever  lived  in  this  province  more  generally  esteemed  and  beloved, 
as  an  honest  worthy  man,  by  persons  of  all  ranks,  persuasions  and  par 
ties,  or  was  more  lamented  as  such  at  his  death.  He  first  came  over 
from  England  into  this  country  in  the  year  1716,  secretary  to  the  late 
worthy  Governor  Shute,  and  register  of  the  court  of  vice-admiralty  for 
this  Province,  New-Hampshire,  and  Rhode-Island  ;  after  which  he  was 
appointed  register  of  the  court  of  probate  of  wills,  &c.  for  the  county 
of  Suffolk,  and  naval  officer  for  the  port  of  Boston ;  all  which  offices 
he  discharged  with  such  singular  diligence,  integrity,  and  goodness,  that 
this  community  never  lost  a  more  useful  and  valuable  member,  than  he 
was  in  his  degree  and  station. 

While  the  Gazette  was  in  the  possession  of  Brooker, 
its  first  proprietor,  it  was  printed  by  James  Franklin. 
Musgrave  employed  Samuel  Kneeland,  who  printed  it 
till  Marshall  took  possession  of  it.  He  employed  Bar 
tholomew  Green,  jun.,  as  the  printer,  who  printed  it 
till  the  death  of  Marshall.  It  was  then  printed  by 
Kneeland  &  Green  for  Boydell  and  his  heirs.  Bartholo 
mew  Green,  jun.  removed  to  Halifax  in  1751,  intend 
ing  to  establish  a  press  in  that  place,  and  died  there,  a 
few  weeks  after  his  arrival,  aged  fifty-two  years. 


48  BOSTON    GAZETTE. 

Samuel  Kneeland,  the  ancient  and  respectable  printer, 
whose  name  occurs  so  often  in  this  article,  was  born  in 
Boston,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  with  Bartholomew 
Green.  He  printed  the  Gazette  till  some  time  in  1727, 
when,  on  the  appointment  of  a  new  postmaster,  the 
printing  of  that  paper  passed  into  the  hands  of  Bartholo 
mew  Green,  jun.  Kneeland  then  began  the  publication  of 
the  New-England  Weekly  Journal,  on  his  own  account, 
and,  a  few  months  after,  formed  a  partnership  with  Timo 
thy  Green.*  He  then  opened  a  bookstore,  and  the 
printing  of  the  Journal  was  conducted  by  Green.  He 
gave  up  the  bookstore  after  a  few  years,  and  returned 
to  the  printing-house.  This  partnership  continued  about 
twenty-five  years,  when  it  was  dissolved,  and  Kneeland 
continued  the  business  alone  with  his  accustomed  activity. 
He  was  a  long  time  printer  to  the  Governor  and  Coun 
cil,  and,  for  several  years,  printed  the  laws  and  journals 
of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  published  many 
books  on  religious  subjects,  and  some  political  pamphlets. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Old  South  Church,  and  a  man 
of  great  piety  and  benevolence.  He  died,  December 
14,  1769,  aged  seventy-three  years,  and  left  four  sons, 
all  of  whom  were  printers.  The  Evening  Post  of 
December  18,  in  an  obituary  notice,  says,  —  "  He  sus 
tained  the  character  of  an  upright  man  and  a  good  Chris 
tian,  and  as  such,  was  universally  esteemed.  He  con 
tinued  in  business,  till,  through  age  and  bodily  infirmities, 
he  was  obliged  to  quit  it.  His  funeral  was  very  respect 
fully  attended  on  Saturday  evening  last." 

*  Son  of  Timothy  Green,  who  removed  from  Boston  to  New-London,  in  1752,  and 
was  the  first  printer  in  Connecticut.  When  the  partnership  of  Kneeland  &  Green 
was  dissolved  in  1752,  Green  joined  his  father,  and  assumed  the  management  of  his 
business,  at  New-London. 


THE  NEW -ENGLAND  COURANT. 


THIS  was  the  third  newspaper  established  in  Boston. 
The  first  number  was  published  on  Monday,  August  17, 
1721,  by  James  Franklin.  The  only  copies  of  it,  that 
I  have  been  able  to  find,  —  except  a  very  few  fugitive 
sheets,  —  are  in  the  library  of  the  Massachusetts  Histor 
ical  Society.  They  are  all  bound  in  one  volume,  and 
the  file  is  far  from  being  perfect.  The  first  paper  in  the 
volume  is  No.  17,  dated  November  27,  1721,  and  the 
last  is  No.  252,  published  on  Saturday,  June  4,  1726.* 

The  government  of  the  province  and  its  principal 
agents,  the  clergy,  and  various  individuals,  were  at 
tacked  in  the  Courant,  by  the  editor  and  his  correspond 
ents,  without  much  regard  to  public  or  personal  char 
acter.  Such  attacks  were  replied  to  in  the  News-Letter 
and  Gazette.  The  controversy  with  the  clergy  seems 
to  have  grown  out  of  a  difference  of  opinion  respecting 
the  practice  of  inoculation  for  the  Small  Pox  —  a  prac- 

*  This  must  be  the  same  file  as  that,  which  Mr.  Thomas  used  in  compiling  his 
History.  He  says,  vol.  ii.  p.  201,  "  I  have  a  file  of  the  New  England  Courant  for 
the  first  two  years  of  its  publication,  with  the  exception  of  the  first  sixteen  num 
bers,  which  are  wanting  " 

5 


50  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

tice,  which  the  Courant  violently  opposed,  both  by 
serious  argument,  and  by  ridicule.  The  Mathers, — 
father  and  son,  —  were  lampooned  by  the  writers  in  the 
Courant,  in  language  not  always  the  most  decent,  and 
which  would  not  be  tolerated  at  the  present  day. 

The  Courant,  No.  17,  has  a  string  of  syllogisms,  of 
which  the  following  are  a  part,  "  in  answer  to  a  late 
piece  in  favor  of  Inoculation,  entitled  Several  Reasons, 
&c."  *  These  syllogisms,  the  writer  says,  "  prove  that 
inoculating  the  Small-Pox  is  a  lawful  and  successful 
practice,  and  not  only  so,  but  a  duty.  Made  plain  and 
familiar  to  the  meanest  capacity,  but  withal  so  strong  as 
to  convince  all  gainsayers,  but  such  as  want  a  purge  of 
hellebore." 

Argument  1.  A  method  of  preventing  death,  which  I  have  read  is 
used  in  Smyrna  and  Constantinople  with  success,  is  not  only  lawful  but 
a  duty.  But  I  have  read  that,  at  Smyrna  and  Constantinople,  inoculat 
ing  the  small-pox  is  practised  with  success.  Therefore,  'Tis  not  only 
lawful  but  a  duty  to  practise  it. 

Arg.  2.  A  practice  that  the  king  and  prince  and  most  eminent  phy 
sicians  in  London  and  Dublin,  and  elsewhere,  have  declared  their 
approbation  of,  is  not  only  lawful  but  a  duty.  But,  Such  eminent  per 
sons  have  declared  their  approbation  of  inoculating  the  small-pox. 
Therefore,  It  is  not  only  lawful  but  a  duty,  &c. 

**#:*:*#=*# 

Arg.  6.  A  method  of  preventing  death,  which  Dr.  I e  M r 

and  his  son,  and  several  other  ministers  say  is  the  right  way,  is  not  only 

lawful  but  a  duty.  But,  Dr.  I e  M r  and  his  son,  &c.  do  say 

that  inoculation  is  the  right  way.  Therefore,  Inoculation  is  not  only 
lawful  but  a  duty. 

Arg.  7.  A  method  of  preventing  death,  which  he  who  comes  into, 
must  believe,  That  it  is  not  his  duty  to  stay  till  God  send  the  sickness  on 
him  in  the  common  way,  because  then  it  will  be  too  late  ;  such  a  method  is 


*  This  "  piece  "  was  a  pamphlet  entitled  "  Several  Reasons,  proving  that 
Inoculating  or  Transplanting  the  Small-Pox  is  a  lawful  Practice,  and  that  it  has 
been  blessed  by  GOD  for  the  saving  of  many  a  Life.  By  Increase  Mather,  D.  D." 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  51 

not  only  lawful  but  a  duty.  But,  He  who  comes  into  the  method  of 
inoculation,  must  believe,  That  it  is  not  his  duty  to  stay  till  God  send  the 
sickness  on  him  in  the  common  way,  because  then  it  will  be  too  late  to  seek 
relief.  Therefore,  Inoculation  is  both  lawful  and  a  duty. 

INFERENCES. 

I.  Many,  who  don't  use  inoculation,  are  in  bad  terms  with  the  sixth 
commandment. 

II.  They  who  call  inoculation  the  work  of  the  Devil,  &c.  are  guilty  of 
a  shocking  blasphemy. 

In  his  Courant  of  December  4,  Franklin  says :  — 

About  three  weeks  since  a  certain  gentleman  stopt  me  in  the  street, 
and  with  an  air  of  great  displeasure  attacked  me  with  words  to  this 
effect :  —  You  make  it  your  business  in  the  paper  called  the  Courant,  to 
villify  and  abuse  the  Ministers  of  this  town.  There  are  many  curses  which 
await  those  that  do  so.  Tfie  Lord  will  smite  through  the  loins  of  them  that 
rise  up  against  the  Levites.  I  would  have  you  consider  of  it.  I  have  no 
more  to  say  to  you.  This  heinous  charge  and  heavy  curse  would  have 
been  more  surprising  to  me,  if  it  had  not  come  from  one  who  is  ever  as 
groundless  in  his  invectives  as  in  his  panegyrics.  *  *  *  But  this 
gentleman  has  endeavored  to  make  me  an  object  of  public  odium,  for  no 
other  reason  than  my  publishing  an  answer  to  a  piece  in  the  Gazette  of 
Oct.  30,  wherein  the  greatest  part  of  the  town  are  represented  as  un 
accountable  liars  and  self-destroyers  for  opposing  the  practice  of  inocu 
lation.  I  speak  not  only  my  own  opinion  in  this,  but  that  of  the  town 
in  general,  who  were  so  exasperated,  that,  at  a  town-meeting  soon  after, 
they  moved,  that  a  committee  might  be  appointed  to  find  out  the 
author ;  but  the  moderator  telling  them  that  he  believed  it  was  not  their 
province  to  inquire  into  the  matter,  and  that  besides  the  difficulty  of 
finding  out  the  author,  the  piece  was  too  -scandalous  to  deserve  their 
notice,  they  were  persuaded  to  desist. 

At  the  close  of  another  column  of  his  justification, 
Franklin  says,  —  The  Courant  was  never  designed  for  a 
party  paper  —  that  Inoculators  and  Anti-Inoculators 
were  welcome  to  speak  their  minds  in  it  —  that  what 
his  own  sentiments  are  concerning  inoculation  can  be 
of  no  consequence  to  any  body  —  "But  if  the  gentle 
man  above-mentioned,  or  those  influenced  by  him,  think 
themselves  wronged  at  any  time,  and  will  not  be  at  the 


52  NEW-ENGLAND     COURANT. 

pains  to  defend  themselves,  they  may  treat  me  as  they 
please  ;  I  shall  not  give  myself  nor  the  town  any  further 
trouble  in  my  defence." 

The  same  paper  contains  a  letter  signed  "  Castalio," 
requesting  "  the  author  of  the  New-England  Courant  " 
to  publish  "  the  words  that  were  spoken  to  Young  Frank 
lin  the  Printer,  Nov.  13,  1721,  (of  which  there  have 
been  many  lies  raised  as  the  manner  of  them  is  on  all 
occasions,)  "  as  follows :  — 

"  Young  man :  You  entertain,  and  no  doubt  you  think  you  edify,  the 
public  with  a  weekly  paper  called  the  Courant.  The  plain  design  of 
your  paper  is  to  banter  and  abuse  the  ministers  of  God,  and,  if  you  can, 
to  defeat  all  the  good  effects  of  their  ministry  on  the  minds  of  the  peo 
ple.  You  may  do  well  to  remember  that  it  is  a  passage,  in  the  blessing 
on  the  tribe  of  Levi,  Smite  through  the  loins  of  them  that  rise  against  him, 
and  of  them  tltat  hate  him.  I  would  have  you  to  know  that  the  faithful 
ministers  of  Christ  in  this  place,  are  as  honest  and  useful  men  as  the 
ancient  Levites  were ;  and,  if  you  resolve  to  go  on  in  serving  their 
great  adversary  as  you  do,  you  must  expect  the  consequences." 

The  reason  of  this  faithful  admonition  was,  because  the  practice  of 
supporting  and  publishing  every  week  a  libel,  on  purpose  to  lessen  and 
blacken  and  burlesque  the  virtuous  and  principal  ministers  of  religion 
in  a  country,  and  render  all  the  services  of  their  ministry  despicable, 
and  even  detestable  to  the  people,  is  a  wickedness  that  was  never  known 
before,  in  any  country,  Christian,  Turkish,  or  Pagan,  on  the  face  of  the 
earth,  and  some  good  men  are  afraid  it  may  provoke  Heaven  to  deal 
with  this  place,  in  some  regards,  as  never  any  place  has  yet  been  dealt 
withal,  and  a  charity  to  this  young  man  and  his  accomplices  might  ren 
der  such  a  warning  proper  for  them. 

In  his  reply,  Franklin  says,  the  best  friend  he  had  in 
the  world  could  not  have  done  more  to  clear  up  his  repu 
tation,  and  he  closes  with  the  following,  which  he  quotes 
from  a  London  paper  :  — 

Thus  P sts,  by  strict  rules, 

May  be  called  the  edge-tools, 

Which  the  people,  poor  fools, 

Are  forbidden  to  touch : 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  53 

Be  a  villain,  a  traitor, 

Affront  your  Creator, 

Or  glory  in  Satire, 
It  safer  is,  much : 

Nay,  be  lewd,  drunk,  or  swear, 

Proud,  covetous  as  they're 

You  may  'scape  the  holy  snare ; 

But  if  a  P st  once  you  have  thoroughly  vext 

He'll  stick  by  you  closer  than  e'er  to  his  text : 

You're  plagued  for 't  in  this  world,  and  d d  in  the  next. 

Other  correspondents  of  the  Courant  attacked  the 
publisher  of  the  Gazette  and  his  Cambridge  correspond 
ent  ;  both  of  them  were  challenged  to  give  the  names  of 
the  persons  pointed  at  as  a  Hell-Fire  Club,  on  pain  of 
being  "  branded  with  infamy,  and  suffering  the  utmost 
rigor  that  the  law  could  inflict."  Dr.  Mather  openly 
denounced  the  Courant,  in  an  address  to  the  public, 
published  in  the  Gazette  of  Jan.  29,  of  which  the  fol 
lowing  is  a  copy,  and,  as  nearly  as  possible,  a  typograph 
ical  transcript  : — 

Advice  to  the  Publiclc  from  Dr.  Increase  Mather.  Whereas  a  wicked 
Libel  called  the  New  England  Courant,  has  represented  me  as  one  among 
the  Supporters  of  it  5  I  do  hereby  declare,  that  altho'  I  had  paid  for  two 
or  three  of  them,  I  then,  (before  the  last  Courant  was  published)  sent 
him  word  I  was  extreamly  offended  with  it !  In  special,  because  in  one 
of  his  Vile  Courants  he  insinuates,  that  if  the  Ministers  of  God  approve  of 
a  thing,  it  is  a  Sign  it  is  of  the  Devil ;  which  is  a  horrid  thing  to  be  relat 
ed  !  And  altho'  in  one  of  the  Courants  it  is  declared,  that  the  London 
Mercury  Sept.  16,  1721,  affirms  that  Great  Numbers  of  Persons  in  the 
City  and  Suburbs  are  under  the  Inoculation  of  the  Small  Pox ;  In  his 
next  Courant  he  asserts,  that  it  was  some  Busy  Inoculator,  that  imposed 
on  the  Publick  in  saying  so ;  Whereas  I  myself  saw  and  read  those  words 
in  the  London  Mercury :  And  he  doth  frequently  abuse  the  Ministers  of 
Religion,  and  many  other  worthy  Persons  in  a  manner,  which  is  intol 
erable.  For  these  and  such  like  Reasons  I  signified  to  the  Printer,  that 
I  would  have  no  more  of  their  Wicked  Courants.  I  that  have  known 
what  New-England  was  from  the  Beginning,  cannot  but  be  troubled  to 
see  the  Degeneracy  of  this  Place.  I  can  well  remember  when  the  Civil 
5* 


54  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

Government  would  have  taken  an  effectual  Course  to  suppress  such  a 
Cursed  Libd !  which  if  it  be  not  done  I  am  afraid  that  some  Awful 
Judgment  will  come  upon  this  Land,  and  the  Wrath  of  God  will  arise, 
and  there  will  be  no  Remedy. 

I  cannot  but  pity  poor  Franklin,  who  tho'  but  a  Young  Man  it  may  be 
Speedily  he  must  appear  before  the  Judgment  Seat  of  God,  and  what 
answer  will  he  give  for  printing  things  so  vile  and  abominable  ?  And  I 
cannot  but  Advise  the  Supporters  of  this  Courant  to  consider  the 
Consequences  of  being  Partakers  in  other  Mens  Sins,  and  no  more  Coun 
tenance  such  a  Wicked  Paper. 

To  this  Franklin  made  a  reply  in  the  Courant  of 
Feb.  5,  which  occupies  more  than  half  of  the  paper. 
After  a  few  introductory  remarks  upon  the  indulgence 
of  intemperate  zeal,  he  says  :  — 

A  furious  pretended  zeal,  which  only  regards  matters  of  opinion,  has 
been  improved  against  myself  with  a  design  to  destroy  my  reputation 
and  interest  amongst  those  who  are  strangers  to  my  person :  and  that 
this  design  might  be  the  better  carried  on,  some  persons  have  been  so 
undutiful  to  the  Reverend  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  as  to  persuade  him  to 
fix  his  name  to  an  advertisement  in  the  last  week's  News-Letter  and 
Gazette,  wherein  the  mildest  appellation  I  meet  with  is  that  of  a  wicked 
and  cursed  Libeller.  This  charge  I  now  lie  under  from  the  oldest  min 
ister  in  the  Country,  and  in  order  to  clear  myself,  I  shall  first  give  an 
account  of  the  first  cause  of  the  difference  between  us. 

He  then  proceeds  to  state  that  a  grandson  of  Dr. 
Mather  (Mather  Byles)  brought  him  an  account  of  the 
success  of  inoculation  in  London,  which  he  said  his 
grandfather  wished  to  have  inserted  in  the  Courant,  and 
that  he  had  copied  it  himself  from  the  London  Mercury. 
Franklin  inserted  the  article,  but  on  examining  the  paper 
referred  to,  he  found  that  there  was  an  essential  differ 
ence  between  the  original  and  the  copy.  He  asserted 
in  his  next  paper  that  the  article  was  not  to  be  found  in 
the  London  Mercury.  "  Here  (says  he)  our  young 
spark  was  detected  in  a  downright  falsehood,  and  lost 
his  credit  with  Couranto."  He  then  considers  the  Doc- 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  55 

tor's  advertisement,  first  observing  that  those  who  took 
advantage  of  his  creditors  to  deceive  the  world,  are 
those  who  now  call  him  a  cursed  libeller:  — 

The  Doctor  first  endeavors  to  clear  himself  of  the  imputation  of 
being  one  among  the  supporters  of  the  Courant,  but  at  the  same  time 
acknowledges  that  he  had  paid  me  for  two  or  three  of  them.  He  might 
as  well  have  said  he  had  paid  me  for  many  more,  as  to  have  put  me  to 
the  trouble  of  proving  it.  Whether  he  remembers  it  or  no,  his  grand 
son  Byles,  by  his  order  desired  me  to  set  him  down  as  a  customer  some 
time  ago  ;  but  upon  the  appearance  of  a  letter  in  the  Courant,  wherein 
a  certain  clergyman  was  touched  upon,  he  dropt  it  as  a  subscriber,  but 
sent  his  grandson  almost  every  week  for  a  considerable  time  to  buy 
them ;  by  which  method  he  paid  more  for  the  papers,  and  was  more  a 
supporter  of  it,  than  if  his  name  had  been  continued  on  the  list.  At 
length,  being  weary  of  sending,  he  became  a  subscriber  again,  and  ex 
pressed  no  dislike  of  the  paper  till  after  Mr.  Musgrave  had  published 
his  grandson's  Letter  in  the  Gazette  of  Jan.  15.  So  that  he  both  had 
and  paid  me  for  one  paper  after  that  which  he  so  much  dislikes.  The 
truth  of  this  I  am  ready  to  disclose  upon  oath  against  the  testimony  of 
all  the  men  in  the  country  —  and  that  he  has  been  a  subscriber  and 
supporter  of  the  paper,  the  following  Letter  under  his  own  hand  will 
sufficiently  prove :  — 

"  Mr  Franklin,  I  had  thoughts  of  taking  your  Courant  (upon  trial) 
for  a  quarter  of  a  year ;  but  I  shall  not  now.  In  one  of  your  Courants 
you  have  said  that  if  the  Ministers  of  God  are  for  a  thing,  it  is  a  sign  it  is 
from  the  Devil,  and  have  dealt  very  falsely  about  the  London  Mercury. 
Tor  these  and  other  reasons,  I  shall  NO  MORE  be  concerned  with  you. 
Your  well-wishing,  but  grieved  friend, 

I.  MATHER. 

Franklin  goes  on  to  exonerate  himself  from  each  of 
the  Doctor's  charges,  in  detail,  and  commences  as  fol 
lows  :  — 

The  Doctor's  great  age,  his  exemplary  piety,  and  the  consideration  of 
his  being  imposed  on  by  others,  would  have  prevented  my  making  any 
remarks  on  his  advertisement,  if  my  own  character  had  not  been  inti 
mately  concerned  in  it. 

I  would  likewise  advise  the  enemies  of  the  Courant  not  to  publish 
any  thing  more  against  it,  unless  they  are  willing  to  have  it  continued. 
What  they  have  already  done  has  been  resented  by  the  Town  so  much 


56  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

to  my  advantage,  that  above  forty  persons  have  subscribed  for  the 
Courant  since  the  first  of  January,  many  of  whom  were  before  subscrib 
ers  to  the  other  papers :  And,  by  one  Advertisement  more,  the  Anti- 
Couranters  will  be  in  great  danger  of  adding  forty  more  to  my  list 
before  the  first  of  March. 

P.  S.  In  a  Pamphlet  lately  published,  under  color  of  vindicating 
the  Ministers,  I  find  all  persons  are  again  advised  not  to  countenance 
the  Courant ;  and  those  who  do  so  are  threatened  with  severe  judge 
ments  from  Heaven.  I  shall  take  notice  of  what  concerns  myself  in 
my  next,  if  a  profane  Son  of  Corah,  a  Child  of  the  Old  /Serpent,  &c. 
may  be  allowed  to  defend  himself. 

Agreeably  to  his  promise,  in  his  next  paper  Franklin 
defended  himself  and  his  correspondents  against  the 
charges  in  the  Pamphlet,  as  follows :  — 

Renovat  pristina  bella. 

'Tis  the  misfortune  of  many  a  good  man,  to  construe  all  that  is  said 
against  his  opinion  (in  matters  of  indifference)  to  be  against  religion, 
which  is  in  effect  to  derive  it  from  the  power  and  pleasure  of  men ;  and 
ends  (in  its  consequences)  to  destroy  all  religion,  and  to  bring  men  at 
last  to  no  religion.  'Tis  a  sure  pledge  of  Atheism ;  for  let  men  once  be 
condemned  as  irreligious  for  opposing  only  the  humors  of  those  who 
profess  religion,  they  will  naturally  be  tempted  to  say,  That  religion  is 
nothing  but  humor.  Religion  derives  its  authority  from  God  alone,  and 
will  not  be  kept  up  in  the  consciences  of  men  by  any  human  Power. 

If  the  author  of  a  late  Pamphlet  (published  under  pretence  of  vindi 
cating  the  Ministers)  had  turned  his  thoughts  this  way,  he  would  never 
have  wrote  a  thing  so  much  to  the  dishonor  of  God,  the  discredit  of  our 
holy  religion  and  the  ministers  of  it.  But  he  has  thrown  a  praise  in  his 
own  face  till  he  is  blind  to  his  own  failings  ;  and  (to  speak  like  him 
self  )  quarrels  with  his  neighbors  because  they  do  not  look  and  think 
just  as  he  would  have  them.  He  calls  myself  and  several  others,  Pro 
fane  Sons  of  Corah,  Children  of  the  Old  Serpent,  Abjects,  daringly  profane, 
&c. ;  and  without  proving  any  thing  criminal  against  us,  earnestly  calls 
on  his  dear  friends  and  neighbors  to  depart  from  the  tents  of  these  wicked 
men,  lest  they  perish  with  them. 

If  the  Courant  is  indeed  notoriously  prostituted  to  a  Hellish  servitude, 
(as  he  insinuates,  p.  3)  then  there  is  reason  for  this  advice  to  his  friends  ; 
but  what  he  recites  from  No.  23,  (which  he  takes  to  be  the  worst 
charge  against  the  ministers,  by  distinguishing  the  words  in  black  letter) 
will  no  ways  prove  it.  The  words  he  recites  are,  Most  of  tJie  ministers 


JAMES     FRANKLIN.  57 

are  for  it,  and  that  induces  me  to  think  it  is  from  the  Devil ;  but  he  pur 
posely  omits  the  latter  part  of  the  sentence,  viz.  For  he  often  makes  use 
of  good  men  as  instruments  to  obtrude  his  delusions  on  the  world. 

By  this  unfair  way  of  writing,  we  may  persuade  those  who  are 
strangers  to  this  gentleman  that  he  often  speaks  blasphemy  in  the  pul 
pit —  as  thus  —  I  with  some  others  go  to  hear  him,  and  he  mentions 
that  place  of  Scripture,  The  fool  hath  said  in  his  heart,  there  is  no  God  — 
we  (designing  to  ruin  his  reputation,  and  the  success  of  his  ministry) 
publish  it  to  the  world  that  he  said,  There  was  no  God.  But  there  has 
been  nothing  of  this  nature  in  the  Courant,  and  until  there  is,  let  him 
reserve  his  cruel  invectives  for  those  who  deserve  them,  (if  such  there 
be,  which  I  much  question,)  otherwise,  his  warning  of  sinners  will  be 
labor  in  vain,  and  in  preaching  the  Gospel,  he  will  spend  his  strength  for 
naught. 

These  things  considered,  let  any  one  judge,  whether  the  author  of  this 
Pamphlet  has  not  done  more  towards  making  the  ministers  despicable 
and  detestable  to  their  people,  than  any  thing  in  the  Courant,  which  he 
calls  a  scandalous  libel.  I  doubt  not  but  it  would  grieve  him  to  hear,  that 
his  abusing  his  neighbors  under  color  of  religion,  has  been  such  a  stum 
bling-block  to  some,  that  they  were  even  tempted  to  think  religion  to  be 
nothing  but  a  cheat  or  contrivance,  imposed  on  the  world  upon  politic 
grounds  :  But  this  I  assure  him  I  have  often  heard  of  late  ;  and  this,  if 
any  tiling,  will  persuade  me  to  be  silent  to  any  other  pieces  of  this 
nature  published  against  me,  unless  the  authors  first  endeavor  to  prove 
what  they  assert,  before  they  pronounce  judgement  against  me  as  a 
Castaway,  which  if  they  had  done,  the  Town  would  more  easily  have 
believed  &  false  and  groundless  report,  lately  raised  to  my  disadvantage. 

It  was  reported  by  some  of  Franklin's  opponents  that 
his  paper  was  "  carried  on  by  a  Hell-Fire  Club,  with  a 
Non-Juror  at  the  head  of  them."  If  the  Mathers  did 
not  originate  the  story,  it  seems  they  gave  it  currency. 
In  the  paper  of  January  22,  1722,  Franklin  notices  this 
and  some  other  attacks  of  his  adversaries,  and  adds,  — 

These,  with  many  other  endeavors,  proceeding  from  an  arbitrary  and 
selfish  temper,  have  been  attended  with  their  hearty  curses  on  the 
Courant  and  its  publisher ;  but  all  to  no  purpose  ;  for,  as  a  Connecticut 
trader  once  said  of  his  onions,  The  more  they  are  cursed,  the  more  they 
grow.  Notwithstanding  which,  a  young  scribbling  collegian,*  who  has 

*  Mather  Byles. 


58  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

just  learning  enough  to  make  a  fool  of  himself,  has  taken  it  in  his  head 
to  put  a  stop  to  this  wickedness,  (as  he  calls  it)  by  a  letter  in  the  last 
week's  Gazette.  Poor  Boy!  When  your  letter  comes  to  be  seen  in 
other  countries,  (under  the  umbrage  of  authority)  what  indeed  will  they 
think  of  New-England  !  They  will  certainly  conclude,  There  is  bloody 
fishing  for  nonsense  at  Cambridge,  and  sad  work  at  the  College.  The 
young  wretch,  when  he  calls  those  who  wrote  the  several  pieces  in  the 
Courant  the  Hell-Fire  Club  of  Boston,  and  finds  a  godfather  for  them, 
(which,  by  the  way,  is  a  Hellish  mockery  of  the  ordinance  of  baptism, 
as  administered  by  the  Church  of  England,)  and  tells  us,  That  all  the 
supporters  of  the  paper  will  be  looked  upon  as  destroyers  of  the  religion  of  the 
country,  and  enemies  to  the  faithful  ministers  of  it,  little  thinks  what  a  cruel 
reflection  he  throws  on  his  reverend  grandfather,  who  was  then  and  for 
some  time  before,  a  subscriber  for  the  paper. 
*  *  =fc  =fc  * 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  me,  that  I  never  inserted  any  thing  in  the  Courant, 
which  charged  any  man,  or  society  of  men,  with  being  guilty  of  the 
crimes,  which  were  peculiar  to  the  Hell-Fire  Club  in  London,  and 
which  the  devils  themselves  are  not  capable  of  perpetrating.  And 

whether  Mr.  M e*  or  his  young  champion  know  it  or  no  'tis  looked 

upon  as  a  gross  reflection  on  the  government;  that  they  should  be  told 
of  a  Hell-Fire  Club  in  Boston  (in  a  -paper  published  by  authority)  and  not 
use  their  endeavors  to  discover  who  they  are,  in  order  to  punish  them. 

In  the  same  paper,  one  of  the  correspondents  of  the 
Courant  addresses  a  letter  to  Musgrave,  from  which  the 
following  is  an  extract :  — 

To  the  Gazetteer. 

Hall's  Coffee  House,  Jan.  20,  1722. 
Old  Muss. 

I  am  not  a  little  concerned  at  the  loss  you  weekly  sustain 
of  customers,  by  your  encouraging  a  certain  paper  called  the  Courant. 
It  seems  you  gave  the  occasion  of  its  first  appearance  in  this  town,  by 
publishing  a  ministerial  inoculation  letter,  which  has  been  a  fund  of  good 
diversion  for  some  months  past.  You  still  continue,  from  time  to  time, 
to  afford  the  Couranteer  opportunities  of  answering  as  agreeably.  Pray, 
unless  you  go  shares  with  Couranto,  consult  your  own  interest  more. 
In  quality  of  Postmaster,  you  have  the  best  opportunity  to  excel,  and 

*  Musgrave,  the  Postmaster,  proprietor,  and  publisher  of  the  Boston  Gazette,  the 
official  paper  of  the  government. 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  59 

recommend  your  paper  by  the  freshest  and  best  intelligences,  foreign 
and  domestic  :  As  Authority  News-  Writer,  let  the  spare  places  in  your 
paper  be  filled  with  Speeches,  Addresses,  Proclamations,  and  other  pub 
lic  notifications :  but,  above  all,  let  the  seat  of  the  Muses  be  sacred. 
May  nothing  that  is  wicked,  false,  dull,  or  childish,  be  said  to  come 
from  our  Alma  mater  Cantabrigia  ;  from  thence  we  expect  solid  sense 
and  bright  wit. 

In  the  same  paper,  in  which  the  preceding  defence 
was  published,  Franklin  inserted  the  following  account 
of  the  Hell-Fire  Club,  from  a  London  paper,  which  he 
states,  he  had  then  "just  received  from  a  Gentleman, 
who,  by  his  office,  is  obliged  to  make  inquiry,  whether 
any  of  His  Majesty's  subjects  here  are  guilty  of  the  like 
horrid  impieties,  as  has  been  insinuated  of  late  by  the 
sworn  enemies  of  the  Courant. "  He  hoped  that  its 
publication  would  do  some  justice  to  the  country  and 
conclude  the  quarrel,  in  which  he  was  engaged  :  — 

The  Hell-Fire  Club  consisted  of  about  forty  persons  of  both  sexes  ; 
fifteen  of  them  were  said  to  be  ladies  of  considerable  quality.  They 
blasphemously  assumed  to  themselves  the  tremendous  names  of  God 
the  Father,  God  the  Son,  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  St.  John  the  Baptist, 
the  Prophets  Enoch,  Elijah,  Elisha,  Samuel,  Jeremiah,  Joshua,  Isaiah, 
the  Twelve  Patriarchs,  Moses,  Aaron,  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  Mary 
Magdalen,  St.  Martha,  King  Daniel,  the  Twelve  Apostles,  and  Joseph 
the  Father  of  Jesus. 

The  parts  acted  by  the  Demi  Red  Dragon  Club,  were  Beelzebub 
King  of  Hell,  Old  Pluto,  the  Old  Devil,  Old  ^Eacus,  the  Young  Devil, 
the  Serpent,  Lady  Envy,  Lady  Malice,  Proserpina  Queen  of  Hell,  the 
Three  Fatal  Sisters. 

The  parts  acted  by  the  Sulphur  Club  were  Sodom  and  Gomorrah, 
Pride,  Lust,  Anger,  Revenge,  Polygamy,  Incest,  Adultery,  Fornication, 
Self-Defiler,  &c. 

Under  these  distinctions  did  they  abuse  all  piety,  and  ridicule  the 
attributes  and  perfections  of  the  Blessed  Trinity,  in  a  manner  very  unfit 
to  be  related. 

Their  chief  place  of  rendezvous  was  sometimes  in  Conduit-street, 
near  Hanover  Square,  or  else  at  a  house  in  Westminster,  or  at  Somer 
set-House,  where  they  erected  an  altar  dedicated  to  the  Devil,  having 


60  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

two  devils  on  the  frame  thereof.  They  usually  set  round  an  oval  table, 
and  each  having  assumed  such  names  as  above-mentioned,  began  with 
an  impious  health  to  the  Devil. 

Four  of  these  daring  wretches  were  ('tis  to  be  feared)  cut  off  in  the 
midst  of  their  impieties  by  the  hand  of  divine  vengeance.  Two  of  them 
in  a  debauch  at  Somerset- House  on  the  Lord's  day,  who  caused  music 
to  be  played  to  them  in  time  of  divine  service,  and  persons  who  there 
drunk  a  most  blasphemous  health,  died  the  same  evening,  and  the  other 
soon  after.  A  young  lady,  who,  as  'tis  said,  called  herself  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  died  in  the  flower  of  her  youth.  The  other,  a  wroman  of  dis 
tinction,  died  at  dinner. 

These  impious  cabals  soon  reached  the  ears  of  his  most  sacred  Majes 
ty,  who,  out  of  tender  regard  to  the  Spiritual  welfare  of  his  people, 
ordered  his  ministers  of  state  to  take  proper  methods  to  suppress  such 
detestable  practices ;  whereupon  an  order  of  council  was  issued  out  for 
that  purpose. 

The  controversy  was  kept  up  for  some  weeks  longer, 
but  both  parties  at  length  seemed  to  be  tired  of  the 
game.  Franklin  published  two  or  three  Dialogues  be 
tween  a  Clergyman  and  a  Layman,  in  which,  of  course, 
the  Layman  had  the  best  of  the  argument.  He  pub 
lished  also  a  mock  advertisement  of  a  doctor,  who  could 
cure  all  sorts  of  disorders,  and  cautioned  the  public  to 
beware  of  quacks.  The  fictitious  doctor  tells  of  various 
miraculous  cures,  but  in  a  style  that  cannot  be  repeated, 
and  calls  loudly  for  patients  that  are  for  inoculation. 
There  were  also  two  or  three  articles  written  in  the 
"  Mundungian  Language,"  said  to  be  for  the  benefit  of 
"  Harfet  Coleg"  who  "  strive  in  vain,  or  are  too  lazy, 
to  learn  the  other  learned  tongues." 

Mr.  Thomas  says,  —  "  Among  the  reasons  which  in 
duced  Franklin  to  publish  the  Courant,  probably  one, 
which  was  not  the  least  considerable,  was  grounded  on 
the  circumstance  of  the  publisher  of  the  Gazette  having 
taken  the  printing  of  it  from  him,  and  given  it  to  another 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  61 

printer.  He  warmly  attacked  Musgrave,  the  publisher 
of  the  Gazette,  in  some  of  the  first  numbers  of  the 
Courant,  and  endeavored  to  have  him  turned  out  of 
office."  The  first  allusion  to  Musgrave,  which  I  find  in 
the  Courant,  is  in  Number  23,  which  contains  a  letter, 
signed  "  Lucillus,"  questioning  him  as  to  certain  omis 
sions  of  official  duty  in  the  delivery  of  letters,  —  whether 
he  does  not  give  people  great  reason  to  suspect  his  hon 
esty,  by  concealing  letters,  which  have  money  enclosed 
in  them,  —  and  "  whether  so  many  letters  taken  out  of 
the  office  opened,  ought  always  to  be  attributed  to  the 
badness  of  the  sealing-wax."  The  writer  thus  continues 
the  attack :  — 

The  old  proverb,  Be  not  a  baker,  if  your  head  be  made  of  butter,  is  very 
applicable  to  yourself.  We  all  know  you  have  a  soft  head,  which  can 
not  long  endure  the  fire  of  your  own  kindling  among  the  people :  They 
are  resolved  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors  to  get  you  removed  5  which 
if  they  do,  your  head  will  be  in  great  danger  of  melting. 

A  famous  title  now  you  boast  on  — 

P st-M r  of  the  town  of  B n ; 

But  when  your  unctuous  head  is  lost, 

You  will  become  a  MASTER-Post. 

How  will  you  look  at  Cambridge  Races, 

'Mongst  idle  fops  and  gaping  asses  ? 

You,  not  the  least  of  all  the  crew, 

Will  be  exposed  to  laughter  too ; 

Nay,  it  will  frighten  all  beholders, 

To  see  your  head  run  down  your  shoulders ; 

Yet  this  will  be  your  fatal  end, 

Unless  you  timely  do  amend. 

Think  of  this,  and  quench  the  fire . 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  obedient  servant. 

There  were  many  other  communications  of  a  similar 
tone,  and  occasionally  a  squib  from  Franklin  himself, 
6 


62  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

but  they  probably  had  no  effect  in  hastening  the  removal 
of  Musgrave. 

As  the  controversy  concerning  the  small-pox  subsided, 
a  series  of  articles  was  begun  in  the  Courant,  by  a 
writer,  or  writers,  who  adopted  the  style  of  a  female  and 
the  signature  of  "  Silence  Dogood."  The  first  two 
numbers  give  an  account  of  the  birth,  parentage,  educa 
tion,  marriage,  and  widowhood  of  Mrs.  Dogood.  In  the 
third  she  states  her  object  in  writing  these  essays,  and 
the  fourth  is  the  Dream,  which  follows  :  — 

I  fancied  I  was  traveling  over  pleasant  and  delightful  fields  and 
meadows,  and  through  many  small  country  towns  and  villages ;  and,  as 
I  passed  along,  all  places  resounded  with  the  fame  of  the  Temple  of 
LEARNING :  Every  peasant,  who  had  wherewithal,  was  proposing  to 
send  one  of  his  children  at  least  to  this  famous  place  ;  and  in  this  case 
most  of  them  consulted  their  own  purses  instead  of  their  children's  ca 
pacities.  So  that  I  observed  a  great  many,  yea,  the  most  part  of  those 
who  were  traveling  thither,  were  little  better  than  blockheads  and 
dunces.  Alas !  Alas ! 

At  length  I  entered  upon  a  spacious  plain,  in  the  midst  of  which  was 
erected  a  large  and  stately  edifice :  It  was  to  this  that  a  great  company 
of  youths  from  all  parts  of  the  country  were  going;  so  stepping  in 
among  the  crowd,  I  passed  on  with  them,  and  presently  arrived  at  the 
gate. 

The  passage  was  kept  by  two  sturdy  porters,  named  Riches  and  Pov 
erty,  and  the  latter  obstinately  refused  to  give  entrance  to  any  who  had 
not  first  gained  the  favor  of  the  former ;  so  that  I  observed  many,  who 
came  even  to  the  very  gate,  were  obliged  to  travel  back  again  as  igno 
rant  as  they  came,  for  want  of  the  necessary  qualification.  However, 
as  a  spectator  I  gained  admittance,  and  with  the  rest  entered  directly 
into  the  temple. 

In  the  middle  of  the  great  hall  stood  a  stately  and  magnificent  throne, 
which  was  ascended  by  two  high  and  difficult  steps.  On  the  top  of  it 
sat  LEARNING,  in  awful  state.  She  was  appareled  wholly  in  black,  and 
surrounded  almost  on  every  side  with  innumerable  volumes  in  all  lan 
guages.  She  seemed  very  busily  employed  in  writing  something  on 
half  a  sheet  of  paper,  and,  upon  inquiry,  I  understood  she  was  prepar 
ing  a  paper,  called  The  New-England  Courant.  On  her  right  hand  sat 
English,  with  a  pleasant,  smiling  countenance,  and  handsomely  attired  j 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  63 

and  on  her  left  were  seated  several  antique  figures,  with  their  faces 
veiled.  I  was  considerably  puzzled  to  guess  who  they  were,  until  one 
informed  me  (who  stood  behind  me)  that  those  figures  on  the  left  hand 
were  Latin,  Greek,  Hebreio,  &c.  and  that  they  were  very  much  reserved, 
and  seldom  or  never  unveiled  their  faces  here,  and  then  to  few  or  none, 
though  most  of  those  who  have  in  this  place  acquired  so  much  learning 
as  to  distinguish  them  from  English,  pretended  to  an  intimate  acquaint 
ance  with  them.  I  then  enquired  of  him,  what  could  be  the  reason 
why  they  continued  veiled,  in  this  place  especially  ?  He  pointed  to  the 
foot  of  the  throne,  where  I  saw  Idleness,  attended  with  Ignorance,  and 
these  (he  informed  me)  first  veiled  them,  and  will  keep  them  so. 

Now  I  observed  the  whole  tribe  who  entered  into  the  temple  with  me 
began  to  climb  the  throne  ;  but  the  work  proving  troublesome  and  diffi 
cult  to  most  of  them,  they  withdrew  their  hands  from  the  plough,  and 
contented  themselves  to  sit  at  the  foot  with  Madam  Idleness  and  her 
maid  Ignorance,  until  those  who  were  assisted  by  diligence  and  a  double 
temper  had  well  nigh  got  up  the  first  step :  But  the  time  drawing  nigh 
in  which  they  could  no  way  avoid  ascending,  they  were  fain  to  crave 
the  assistance  of  those  who  had  got  up  before  them,  and  who,  for  the 
reward,  perhaps,  of  a  pint  of  milk,  or  a  piece  of  plumb-cake,  lent  the  lub 
bers  a  hand,  and  sat  them,  in  the  eye  of  the  world  upon  a  level  with 
themselves. 

The  other  step  being  in  the  same  manner  ascended,  and  the  usual 
ceremonies  at  an  end,  every  beetle-skull  seemed  well  satisfied  with  his 
own  portion  of  learning,  though  perhaps  he  were  e'en  just  as  ignorant  as 
ever.  And  now  the  time  of  their  departure  being  come,  they  marched 
out  of  doors  to  make  room  for  another  company,  who  waited  for  en 
trance  :  and  I,  having  seen  all  that  was  to  be  seen,  quitted  the  hall,  like 
wise,  and  went  to  make  my  observations  on  those  who  were  just  gone 
out  before  me. 

Some,  I  perceived,  took  to  merchandizing,  others  to  traveling,  some 
to  one  thing,  some  to  another,  and  some  to  nothing ;  and  many  of  these, 
henceforth,  for  want  of  patrimony,  lived  as  poor  as  church  mice,  being 
unable  to  dig  and  ashamed  to  beg,  and  to  live  by  their  wits  it  was  impos 
sible.  But  the  most  part  of  the  crowd  went  along  a  large  beaten  path 
which  led  to  a  temple  at  the  further  end  of  the  plain,  called,  The  Tem 
ple  of  Theology.  The  business  of  those,  who  were  employed  in  this 
temple,  being  laborious  and  painful,  I  wondered  exceedingly  to  see  so 
many  go  towards  it ;  but  while  I  was  pondering  this  matter  in  my  mind, 
I  spied  Pecunia  behind  a  curtain,  beckoning  to  them  with  her  hand, 
which  sight  immediately  satisfied  me  for  whose  sake  it  was,  that  a  great 
part  of  them,  (I  will  not  say  all)  traveled  that  road.  In  this  temple  I 


64  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

saw  nothing  worth  mentioning,  except  the  ambitious  and  fraudulent 
contrivances  of  Plagius,  who  (notwithstanding  he  had  been  severely 
reprehended  for  such  practices  before)  was  diligently  transcribing  some 
eloquent  paragraphs  out  of  Tillotson's  Works,  &c.  to  embellish  his  own. 

Now  I  bethought  myself  in  my  sleep,  that  it  was  time  to  be  at  home ; 
and,  as  I  fancied  I  was  traveling  back  thither,  I  reflected  in  my  mind  on 
the  extreme  folly  of  those  parents,  who,  blind  to  their  children's  dull 
ness,  and  insensible  of  the  solidity  of  their  skulls,  because  they  think 
their  purses  can  afford  it,  will  needs  send  them  to  the  Temple  of  Learn 
ing,  where,  for  want  of  a  suitable  genius,  they  learn  little  more  than 
now  to  carry  themselves  handsomely,  and  enter  a  room  genteelly, 
(which  might  as  well  be  acquired  at  a  dancing  school,)  and  from  whence 
they  return,  after  abundance  of  trouble  and  charge,  as  great  blockheads 
as  ever,  only  more  proud  and  self-conceited. 

While  I  was  in  the  midst  of  these  unpleasant  reflections,  Clericus, 
(who,  with  a  book  in  his  hand  was  walking  under  the  trees)  accidentally 
awaked  me ;  to  him  I  related  my  dream,  with  all  its  particulars,  and  he, 
without  much  study  presently  interpreted  it,  assuring  me,  That  it 
was  a  lively  representation  of  HARVARD  COLLEGE,  et  cetera. 

The  essays  of  Mrs.  Dogood  were  on  various  subjects, 
and  of  very  unequal  merit  in  composition.  They  were 
doubtless  the  work  of  different  hands,  though  I  think 
chiefly  from  the  pen  of  Benjamin  Franklin.  Here  fol 
lows  an  extract  from  No.  VII. :  — 

There  has  lately  appeared  among  us  a  most  excellent  piece  of  Poetry, 
entituled,  An  Elegy  upon  the  much  lamented  Death  of  Mrs.  Mehitdbell 
Kitel,  wife  of  Mr.  John  Kltell  of  Salem,  &c.  It  may  justly  be  said  in  its 
praise,  without  flattery  to  the  author,  that  it  is  the  most  extraordinary 
piece,  that  ever  was  wrote  in  New-England.  The  language  is  so  soft 
and  easy,  the  expression  so  moving  and  pathetic ;  but,  above  all,  the 
verse  and  numbers  so  charming  and  natural,  that  it  is  almost  beyond 
comparison.  I  find  no  English  author,  ancient  or  modern,  whose  ele 
gies  may  be  compared  with  this,  in  respect  to  the  elegance  of  style,  or 
smoothness  of  rhyme ;  and,  for  the  affecting  part,  I  will  leave  your 
readers  to  judge,  if  they  ever  read  any  lines,  that  would  sooner  make 
them  draw  tJieir  breath  and  sigh,  if  not  shed  tears,  than  these  fol 
lowing  :  — 

Come  let  us  mourn,  for  we  have  lost  a  ivife,  a  daughter,  and  a  sister, 
Who  has  lately  taken  flight,  and  greatly  we  have  mist  her. 
*  #  *  #  # 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  65 

So7ne  little  time  before  she  yielded  her  breath, 

She  said,  I  ne'er  shall  hear  one  sermon  more  on  earth. 

She  kist  her  husband  some  little  time  before  she  expired, 

Then  leaned  her  head  the  pillow  on,  just  out  of  breath  and  tired. 

****** 

I  should  be  very  much  straitened  for  room,  if  I  should  attempt  to 
discover  even  half  the  excellences  of  this  Elegy,  which  are  obvious  to 
me.     Yet  I  cannot  omit  one  observation,  which  is,  that  the  author  has, 
(to  his  honor)  invented  a  new  species  of  poetry,  which  wants  a  name, 
and  was  never  before  known.    His  muse  scorns  to  be  confined  to  the  old 
measures  and  limits,  or  to  observe  the  dull  rules  of  critics  ;  — 
Nor  Rapin  gives  her  rules  to  fly,  nor 
Purcell  notes  to  sing. 

Now  'tis  pity  that  such  an  excellent  piece  should  not  be  dignified  with 
a  particular  name ;  and,  seeing  it  cannot  justly  be  called  either  Epic, 
Sapphic,  Lyric,  or  Pindaric,  nor  any  other  name  yet  invented,  I  presume 
it  may,  (in  honor  and  remembrance  of  the  dead)  be  called  the  Kitellic. 

"  Mrs.  Dogood  "  continued  to  furnish  a  column  or  two 
at  a  time  till  near  the  close  of  the  year  1722.  The  last 
of  her  essays  contains  some  wholesome  admonition  con 
cerning  drunkenness,  from  which  the  following  is  an 
extract :  — 

I  cannot  pretend  to  account  for  the  different  effects  of  liquor  on  per 
sons  of  different  dispositions,  who  are  guilty  of  excess  in  the  use  of  it. 
'Tis  strange  to  see  men  of  a  regular  conversation  become  rakish  and 
profane  when  intoxicated  with  drink,  and  yet  more  surprizing  to  observe, 
that  some,  who  appear  to  be  the  most  profligate  wretches  when  sober, 
become  mighty  religious  in  their  cups,  and  will  then,  and  at  no  other 
time  address  their  Maker,  but  when  they  are  destitute  of  reason,  and 
actually  affronting  him.  Some  shrink  in  the  melting,  and  others  swell 
to  such  an  unusual  bulk  in  their  imaginations,  that  they  can  in  an  in 
stant  understand  all  arts  and  sciences,  by  the  liberal  education  of  a 
little  vivifying  Punch,  or  a  sufficient  quantity  of  other  vivifying  liquor. 

And  as  the  effects  of  liquor  are  various,  so  are  the  characters  given 
to  its  devourers.  It  argues  some  shame  in  the  drunkards  themselves,  in 
that  they  have  invented  numberless  words  and  phrases  to  cover  their 
folly,  whose  proper  significations  are  harmless,  or  have  no  signification 
at  all.  They  are  seldom  known  to  be  drunk,  though  they  are  very  often 
Boozey,  Cozey,  Tipsy,  Fox'd,  Merry,  Mellow,  Fuddled,  Groatable,  Confound- 
6* 


66  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

edly  cut,  See  two  moons,  are  Among  the  Philestines,  In  a  very  good  humor, 
See  the  sun,  or  The  sun  has  shone  upon  them ;  they  Clip  the  king's  English, 
are  Almost  froze,  Feverish,  In  their  attitudes,  Pretty  well  entered,  &c.  In 
short,  every  day  produces  some  new  word  or  phrase,  which  might  be 
added  to  the  vocabulary  of  the  tipplers ;  but  I  have  chose  to  mention 
these  few,  because  if,  at  any  time,  a  man  of  sobriety  and  temperance 
happens  to  cut  himself  confoundedly,  or  is  almost  froze,  or  feverish,  or  acci 
dentally  sees  the  sun,  &c.  he  may  escape  the  imputation  of  being  drunk, 
when  his  misfortune  comes  to  be  related. 

The  Courant  of  July  16,  (No.  50)  has  the  following 
article :  — * 

And  then,  after  they  had  anathematized  and  cursed  a  man  to  the 

Devil,  and  the  Devil  did  not  or  would  not  take  him,  then  to  make  the  Sheriff 
and  the  Jaylor  to  take  the  Devil's  leavings.  Postscript  to  Hickeringill's 
Sermon  on  the  Horrid  Sin  of  Man-Catching,  page  39. 

I  can  compare  the  following  letter  to  nothing  else  but  the  pelting  a 
criminal  Avith  rotten  eggs,  while  he  is  suffering  the  law ;  and,  after  asking 
my  reader's  pardon,  I  shall  offer  it  to  them  as  such ;  at  the  same  time 
desiring  the  writers  of  it  to  bear  with  patience  the  unwelcome  news  of 
my  enlargement.  And,  as  I  never  published  any  thing  with  a  design  to 
affront  the  Government,  so  I  promise  to  proceed  with  the  like  caution, 
as  long  as  I  have  the  liberty  granted  me  of  following  my  business. 
A  Letter  to  Cburanto  from  one  of  his  most  eminent  friends,  on  the  joyful 

news  of  his  imprisonment. 
Thrust  into  the  Grate  by  an  unknown  Hand. 
Unhappy  Man, 

The  crimes  you  have  been  guilty  of  are  so  numerous  and  heinous, 
that  we  think  no  punishment  severe  enough  to  be  inflicted  on  you. 

*  This  article,  as  will  be  perceived,  was  written  after  Franklin's  release  from 
prison.  The  Orders  of  Council,  by  which  he  was  arrested  and  imprisoned,  are 
given  at  length  in  Mr.  Thomas's  History,  vol.  ii.  p.  217-220.  Mr.  Thomas  says : 
"  Franklin  was  imprisoned  four  weeks  in  the  common  gaol."  This  is  probably 
correct,  but  I  find  no  account  of  his  arrest  in  the  Courant,  nor  is  the  time  of  his 
"  enlargement  "  stated  in  any  other  place,  that  I  can  discover,  than  the  introduc 
tory  paragraph  in  the  extract  here  given. 

In  a  note  to  page  218,  vol.  ii.  Mr.  Thomas  says,  —  "  No.  52  has  this  advertise 
ment.  '  This  paper  (No.  52)  begins  the  fifth  quarter,  and  those  that  have  not 
paid  for  THE  LASH  are  desired  to  send  their  money,  or  pay  it  to  the  bearer.'  " 
There  are  two  rather  singular  mistakes  in  this  note.  It  is  No.  53  — not  52  — 
which  contains  the  advertisement  in  question.  But  the  word  "  lash,"  which  Mr. 
Thomas  has  printed  in  capitals,  is  not  in  it.  The  word  is  last  —  and  the  call  is  to 
those,  that  have  not  paid  for  the  last  quarter.  In  the  copy  now  before  me,  which 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  67 

The  manifest  design  of  your  paper  is  to  abuse  our  reverend  Clergy, 
and  reproach  our  learned  Youth,  to  revile  the  Government,  and  disaffect 
the  people  to  the  present  administration,  which  wo  are  sure,  any  man 
may,  and  every  man  ought  to  be  easy  under. 
0  Hare  Couranto  ! 

"We  justly  triumph  in  your  righteous  fate, 

You  impious  wretch,  that  lashed  both  church  and  state, 

Father  of  discord,  maker  of  division, 

Broacher  of  strife,  and  sower  of  sedition, 

Fomenter  of  contention  and  debate, 

And  feuds  in  family,  in  church  and  state. 

What !  such  a  scoundrel  rascal  take  in  hand 

To  banish  vice,  and  to  reform  our  land, 

Boldly  to  reprimand  our  reverend  seers, 

And  lug  our  Ghostly  Fathers  by  the  ears ; 

To  tax  our  learned  Youth  with  want  of  Knowledge, 

And  impudently  satirize  our  College  ; 

To  load  our  pious  Judges  with  disgrace, 

And  fault  our  Rulers  to  their  very  face ! 

Oh,  scoundrel  wretch !  Your  vile  Courant  has  spread 

Its  poison  far  and  wide  !    No  matter  you  were  dead, 

And  your  Courants  all  burnt,  that  have  such  discord  bred. 

Your  scandalous  defamatory  libel 

Is  praised  and  prized  by  some  above  the  Bible, 

And  more  devoutly  read ;  But  yet  we  dare  aver, 

It  does  more  hurt  than  famine,  plague,  and  war. 

And  do  you  think  a  jail  too  bad  for  you, 

And  all  the  rest  of  your  seditious  crew  ? 

Why  do  you  pine  so,  and  your  speech  so  falter, 

You  impious  wretch,  when  you  deserve  a  halter, 

Or,  in  a  stinking  jail  to  lie  and  rot  ? 

Nor  should  good  people  pity  you  a  jot. 

Fellow !  be  easy,  cease  your  grumbling  din, 

For  better  men  before  you  have  been  in ; 

By  H — 11-b — rn  Revol — on  married  there, 

Nor  did  they  grumble,  languish,  or  despair. 

Marry,  good  Sir !  a  jail  me  think's  too  good 

For  you,  and  others  of  the  factious  brood ; 

I  presume  is  the  copy  that  Mr.  Thomas  had  when  he  wrote,  some  person  has 
made  a  blot  on  the  final  letter  of  the  word,  —  apparently  with  a  pen  —  with  an 
intent  perhaps  to  make  the  t  resemble  an  A.  But  the  attempt  was  abortive  and  is 
easily  detected. 


68  NEW-ENGLAND     COURANT. 

We  hope  to  see  you  on  a  gibbet  dangle, 

With  all  the  meddling  crew,  that  come  to  wrangle. 

In  his  remarks  upon  this  congratulatory  epistle,  Frank 
lin  makes  a  quotation  from  a  speech  of  Mr.  Atstabie  to 
the  House  of  Lords,  and  concludes  by  saying  — "  It 
was  no  mitigation  of  my  punishment,  to  think  that  better 
men  than  myself  had  been  in  prison  before  me.  I  know 
the  late  Governor  Dudley  was  confined  in  the  time  of 
the  Revolution ;  but  I  never  could  perceive  that  the 
gaol  stank  a  whit  the  less  for  him."  * 

It  does  not  appear  that  these  proceedings  had  any 
effect  in  checking  the  freedom,  with  which  Franklin  and 
his  correspondents  chose  to  comment  on  public  men  and 
measures.  The  paper  of  July  30th  is  occupied  almost 
entirely  with  a  chapter  of  Magna  Charta,  and  the  com 
ments  of  a  correspondent,  intended  to  show  the  illegality 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  government.  Almost  every 
paper,  for  several  weeks,  contained  remarks  that  irritated, 
—  and  probably  were  intended  to  irritate,  —  those  in 
authority,  by  raising  a  laugh  at  their  expense.  One  of 
the  keenest  articles  of  this  sort  is  the  following :  — 

To  the  Author  of  the  New-England  Courant. 

The  following  Lines  were  occasioned  by  some  unusual  proceedings 
on  a  certain  side  of  the  Atlantic,  which  may  perhaps  be  remembered  by 
some  yet  living  in  that  country,  and  elsewhere ;  I  shall  therefore  offer 
them  to  you  without  any  further  explanation  ;  and  remain, 
Sir, 

Your  humble  Servant, 

DIG.  BURLESQUE. 
A  tract  of  land,  of  vast  extent, 
For  want  of  Christian  Settlement, 

*  What  Franklin  was  imprisoned  for,  does  not  distinctly  appear.  The  Resolve 
of  the  Council,  that  "  no  such  weekly  paper  be  hereafter  printed  or  published  with 
out  the  same  be  first  perused  and  allowed  by  the  Secretary,"  was  passed  on  the 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  69 

Lay  long  o'crrtm  with  woods  and  trees, 
And  barbarous  tribes  of  Salvages. 

At  length  a  mighty  Prince  of  Europe, 
Whom  Providence  it  seems  did  stir  up 
T'  enlarge  his  power  and  territories, 
(If  we  may  credit  ancient  stories) 
Sent  o'er  a  number  of  his  subjects, 
Some  who  were  filled  with  rambling  projects, 
And  some  indeed  came  out  of  conscience, 
To  settle  in  this  country  long  since. 

Through  various  forms  of  government 
They  passed,  till  many  years  were  spent  j 
But  always  used  (to  blind  the  people,) 
To  join  the  State  unto  the  steeple ; 
And  those  who  left  the  State  i'  th'  lurch, 
Would  cry,  The  danger  of  ike  Church  ! 
Till  some  o'  the  Clergy  and  the  College, 
Declared  against  the  sin  of  knowledge; 
And  truly  'tis  a  fatal  omen, 
When  knowledge,  which  belongs  to  no  men 
But  to  the  Clergy  and  the  Judges, 
Gets  in  the  heads  of  common  drudges. 

But  time  at  last  had  brought  to  light 
A  Painter,  who,  in  black  and  white, 
Would  every  roguish  face  discover, 
And  send  them  all  the  country  over ; 
And  every  face,  in  every  town, 
Had  scores  of  knaves  to  call 't  his  own : 
Whether  he  drew  by  art,  or  blunder'd 
Each  knavish  face  would  fit  a  hundred : 
And  what  betrayed  the  silly  asses, 
They  could  not  help  comparing  faces. 
Nay,  once  (where'er  it  was  he  aim'd) 
He  drew  a  face  th'  whole  Senate  claim'd ; 
But  though  they  knew  the  face  was  true, 
They  storm'd  to  see  't  exposed  to  view. 

5lh  of  July.  Only  one  paper  was  issued  after  that  date  before  that,  in  which  he 
announces  his  "  enlargement ;  "  so  that,  if  he  were  in  prison  four  weeks,  as  Mr. 
Thomas  states,  he  must  have  been  placed  there  before  the  passage  of  the  Resolve 
iu  Council. 


70  NEW- ENGLAND    COURANT. 

Look  ye !  (says  one)  This  saucy  villain ! 
We  're  all  in  the  compass  of  a  shilling  ! 
I  wonder  how  the  rascal  draws  us, 
And  in  so  small  a  compass  stows  us. 
Here,  Bumbo,  go  and  call  this  Painter ; 
We  '11  make  him  know  how  he  durst  venture 
To  post  us  up  all  o'er  the  country. 
We  ha'  n't  been  served  so  all  this  cent'iy. 

The  Painter  went  when  he  was  sent  for, 
But  knew  not  what  it  was  he  went  for : 
And,  Bumbo  having  oped  the  door, 
He  entered  in  and  scraped  the  floor. 

A  Senator,  as  grave  as  aged, 
Whose  looks  some  punishment  presaged, 
Stood  up,  and  having  scratched  his  head, 
Unto  the  Painter  thus  he  said ;  — 
"  We  have  a  picture  lately  sent  us, 
Wherein  you  truly  represent  us  ; 
But  pray,  of  whom  had  you  the  draught 
To  copy  from  ? "  The  Painter  laughed ; 
But  having  recomposed  his  visage, 
Quoth  he  —  "  It  ne'er  was  known  in  this  age, 
For  us  to  tell  whose  draughts  we  use 
When  we  your  worships'  heads  compose  : 
And  since  you  own  the  draught  is  true, 
'Tis  needless  to  inquire  who 
It  was  that  drew  it  in  the  first  place  : 
The  country  knows  it  is  a  just  face." 

A  Copper-Smith,  (one  of  the  Senate) 
Stood  up  and  cried,  "  But  this  day  se'ennight, 
No  mortal  man  knew  what  we  acted, 
Or  how  our  heads  were  then  compacted : 
How  then  could  any  foreign  hand 
(As  by  the  draught  we  understand) 
Draw  us  so  true  at  such  a  distance  ? 
It  seems  to  me  an  inconsistence. 
This  Painter  is  a  saucy  elf; 
I  b'lieve  he  drew  us  first  himself." 

"  It  matters  not  by  whom  you  were  drawn," 
Says  the  Painter,  "  since  your  worships  are  drawn 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  71 

But  if  so  great  a  fault  it  is 
To  paint  your  worship's  sacred  phiz, 
Some  crime  (as  from  your  hearts  it  passes, 
Flies  out  and  spreads  upon  your  faces) 
You  are  afraid  should  thus  be  shown, 
And  to  your  injured  country  known. 
You  own  yourselves  the  draught  is  true, 
And  yet  can  blame  the  Painter  too. 
So  homely  dames  with  ragged  faces, 
Lay  all  the  fault  upon  their  glasses." 

At  this  the  Senate  grew  incensed, 
And  sullen  looks  around  commenced, 
The  Painter,  for  his  sin  so  vile, 
Was  ordered  to  withdraw  awhile ; 
Meanwhile,  to  work  in  him  repentance, 
They  drew  at  large  the  following  sentence : 

The  Sentence  of  the  Senate. 

T  the  Senate,  in  the  month  of .  WHEREAS, 

Of  late  appeared  among  us  there  has 
A  Painter,  who  in  factious  pieces, 
Does  represent  our  sacred  faces  ; 
And  though  his  vile  seditious  practice, 
We  own  but  too,  too  often  fact  is, 
His  crime  has  on  rebellion  bordered ; 
And  therefore,  by  ourselves  'tis  ORDERED  : 
That  Bumbo  shall  forthwith  with  him  go, 
And  put  him  close  into  the  Limbo, 
There  to  remain,  for  his  transgression, 
Until  the  ending  of  this 

The  writers  in  the  Courant  frequently  amused  them 
selves  and  the  readers  of  the  paper  with  criticisms  on 
the  elegiac  poetry,  in  which  the  press  seems  to  have 
been  prolific.  "  Hypercriticus,"  in  the  paper  of  Novem 
ber  12,  says,  "  Of  all  the  different  species  of  poetry  now 
in  use,  I  find  the  Funeral  Elegy  to  be  the  most  univer 
sally  admired  and  used  in  New-England.  There  is 
scarce  a  plough-jogger  or  country  cobler  that  has  read 
our  Psalms,  and  can  make  two  lines  jingle,  who  has  not, 


72  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

once  in  his  life  at  least,  exercised  his  talent  in  this  way. 
Nor  is  there  one  country  house  in  fifty,  which  has  not 
its  walls  garnished  with  half  a  score  of  this  sort  of  Po 
ems,  (if  they  may  be  so  called,)  which  praise  the  dead 
to  the  life,  and  enumerate  all  their  excellencies,  gifts  and 
graces."  He  then  proceeds  to  review  "  Two  late  Ele 
gies  :  "  — 

The  first  is  written  by  the  Eeverend  Mr.  Mrestus  Composuit,  J.  D.  V. 
D.  M  Dorcestrice,  which  is  the  name  he  commonly  signs  his  perform 
ances  of  that  nature  with.  It  is  an  Elegy  (or  rather  Satire)  on  Mr. 
Samuel  Topliff,  one  of  the  ruling  elders  of  the  first  church  in  Dorches 
ter.  In  the  former  part  he  smartly  satirizes  the  Church  of  England, 
cuts  down  Episcopacy,  and  entertains  us  with  an  historic  account  of 
Bishop  Laud's  Persecution  and  the  settlement  of  New-England  ;  and, 
in  the  latter  he  plentifully  burlesques  the  memory  of  the  deceased.  * 
#  *  # 

In  Seculars  had  foresight  good, 

And  well  his  business  understood. 

In  civil,  military  stations, 

Some  years  he  served  his  generation  ; 

Then  nine  years  in  the  Deaconship, 

Twenty-one  in  the  Eldership. 

Able  for  counsel  and  advice, 

By  long  experience  made  wise. 

Could  form  a  speech  extempore 

With  notable  dexteritie, 

And  bring  about  his  argument, 

To  win  his  hearers  good  consent, 

Obtaining  guidance  from  above, 

Knew  when  to  stop  and  when  to  move  ; 

Could  act,  retract,  sail,  row,  and  steer, 

Sheer  off  from  rocks  with  prudent  fear. 

Having  thus  burlesqued  the  Rev.  Lay  Elder,  he  presents  us  with  an 
ample  muster-roll  of  shining  heroes,  his  predecessors.  And  here  he 
wisely  makes  choice  of  double  rhymes,  as  the  most  agreeable  by  far  to 
celebrate  their  immortal  memory  — 

Bright  Withington  and  shining  Minot, 
And  radiant  Humfrey,  (names  that  die  not,) 
Rare  Blake,  and  two  choice  Claps,  who  stood 
Sin's  foes,  but  friends  to  all  that 's  good. 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  73 

This  way  of  marshaling  heroes  (either  living  or  dead)  is  very  com 
mon  with  our  writers  of  elegy.  I  could  give  many  instances,  had  I 
time ;  but  the  two  following  shall  suffice  for  the  present.  The  first  is 
taken  from  an  Elegy  on  Ichabod  Plaisted,  Esq.  and  runs  thus,  — 

Ichabod  gone  !  not  all  our  glory  gone  ? 

William,  Charles,  Lewis,  Abraham,  Elisha,  Joseph,  John. 

The  other  is  from  an  Elegy  on  the  Rev.  Mr.  Holyoke. 

That  godly  man,  John  Holyoke, 

We  are  bereft  of  thee, 
And  also  Deacon  John  Hitchcock, 

Japhet  Chapen,  all  three. 

=*    *    *    *    * 

An  eclipse  of  the  sun  happened  on  the  27th  of  No 
vember.  A  few  weeks  previous,  Thomas  Robie  of 
Harvard  College,*  published  a  calculation  concerning  it, 
which  probably  excited  considerable  curiosity.  One  of 
the  wits  of  the  Courant,  in  the  paper  succeeding  the 
eclipse,  wrote  the  following  :  — 

I  will  not  be  so  impertinent  as  to  tell  the  world  of  the  great  eclipse  of 
the  sun  on  Tuesday  last.  There  were  too  many  spectators  there  to 
make  it  now  a  piece  of  public  news.  The  hills  and  turrets  were  crowd 
ed  with  gaping  planet-peepers,  among  whom  was  the  author  of  the 
following  lines,  who,  to  catch  the  first  appearance,  was  strained  on  tip 
toe,  almost  to  the  cracking  of  his  ham-strings,  on  the  snowy  top  of  a 
high  building,  where  the  Spirit  of  Versification  seized  him  violently, 
and  would  not  leave  him,  till  he  had  railed  at  the  moon  in  the  following 
manner :  — 

How  now,  proud  Queen  !  what  dost  thou,  strutting  here, 
On  Day's  bright  hill  ?     Away  to  your  dark  sphere, 
And  don't  presume  t'  invade  great  Phcebus'  right ; 
To  him  belongs  the  Day,  to  you  the  Night. 

*  Thomas  Robie,  fellow  of  Harvard  College,  was  graduated,  A.  D.  1708  ;  instruct 
ed  a  class  from  1714  to  1723  ;  he  then  studied  physic.  He  was  eminent  as  a  mathe 
matician,  and  a  handsome  writer  ;  specimens  of  his  scientific  abilities,  and  his  man. 
ner  of  composing,  may  be  found  scattered  in  the  magazines  and  newspapers  during 
twenty  years  of  the  eighteenth  century  ;  particularly  a  letter  to  the  public,  concern 
ing  a  very  remarkable  eclipse  of  the  sun,  November  27,  1722.  Eliot's  Biog. 
Diet. 

VOL.    I.  7 


74  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

Besides,  much  better  does  your  orb  appear, 
When  farthest  from  his  dazzling  beams  you  are. 
You  with  the  clouds  have  an  agreement  made, 
To  clothe  the  Sun  in  black,  the  Earth  with  shade. 
Ha,  ha !  'tis  as  you  spite.    What  have  we  done, 
That  you  should  rob  us  of  three  hours'  Sun  ? 
If  in  the  midst  of  Summer's  melting  heat, 
Between  the  Sun  and  us  you  rad  chose  a  seat, 
We  'ad  paid  you  thanks :    But  now  to  interpose, 
When  we  with  northern  blasts  are  almost  froze, 
Is  hardly  fair.    Far  this,  before  'tis  noon, 
You  shall  surrender  up  th'  invaded  throne. 
Though  of  the  Sun  the  start  you  'ave  slily  stole, 
He'll  first  arrive,  and  seize  the  shining  goal. 
Drive  on,  bright  King  of  day  !  pursue  the  race ; 
Huzza !  he  gains  upon  the  moon  apace ! 
And  soon  will  leave  her  at  his  shining  heels ; 
Bless  me  !  how  nimbly  roll  his  chariot  wheels ! 
The  rapid  steeds  race  up  th'  ethereal  road, 
Rejoicingly.     Stand  by,  you  saucy  Cloud  ; 
Let 's  see  fair  play.     Come,  Boreas,  with  your  train, 
Drive  each  intruder  off  th'  encumbered  plain. 
'Tis  done  :    And  now  they've  come  in  open  view, 
And  swift  as  nimble  Time  their  course  pursue. 
And  now  th'  ambitious  Moon  is  out  of  sight, 
Victorious  Sol,  come  cheer  us  with  your  light. 

Here  the  rhyming  spirit  left  him  in  the  lurch ;  and  therefore  he  en 
treats  the  reader  to  trust  him  for  the  rest,  till  the  next  visible  eclipse. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  Franklin  published  the  fol 
lowing  article :  — 

—  In  the  wicked  there's  no  vice, 
Of  which  the  saints  have  not  a  spice ; 
And  yet  that  thing  that's  pious  in 
The  one,  in  t'other  is  a  sin. 
Is't  not  ridiculous  and  nonsense, 
A  saint  should  be  a  slave  to  conscience  ?    Hud. 
To  the  Author  of  the  New-England  Courant. 
SIR, 

It  is  an  observation  no  less  true  than  sorrowful,  which  some  have 
made,  that  there  are  many  persons  who  seem  to  be  more  than  ordinary 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  75 

religions,  but  yet  are  on  several  accounts  worse  by  far  than  those  who 
pretend  to  no  religion  at  all. 

This  sort  of  men  would  fain  be  thought  to  have  arrived  at  an  elevated 
pitch  of  sanctity,  and  outstript  their  neighbors  in  the  externals  of  reli 
gion,  while  (without  regard  to  real  virtue  and  goodness)  they  do  put  on 
the  outward  form,  as  a  cloak  to  cover  their  wicked  practices  and  designs. 
These,  many  times,  have  the  fairest  outside  of  any  men.  They  have 
the  blaze  of  a  high  profession,  when  perhaps  they  are  blacker  than  a  coal 
within.  If  we  observe  them  in  their  conversation  with  men  we  shall 
ever  find  them  seemingly  religious,  full  of  pious  expressions  and  more  than 
ordinary  prone  to  fall  into  serious  discourse,  without  any  regard  to  the 
time,  place  or  company  they  are  in:  Whereas  (every  thing  being  beau 
tiful  in  its  season)  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  such  discourse  is  not 
expedient  at  all  times.  Or,  if  we  view  them  in  their  families,  we  shall 
find  them  nothing  but  devotion  and  religion  there.  So  if  we  observe 
them  on  the  Sabbath,  they  are  wonderful  strict  and  zealous  in  the  sanc- 
tification  of  that ;  and,  it  may  be,  are  exact  observers  of  the  evening 
before  and  after  it ;  or,  trace  them  to  the  solemn  assemblies,  and  who  is 
there  so  devout  and  attentive  as  they  1  Nay,  sometimes  they  discover 
such  distorted  faces,  and  awkward  gestures,  as  render  them  ridiculous. 
But  yet,  these  very  men  are  often  found  to  be  the  greatest  cheats  ima 
ginable  ;  they  will  dissemble  and  lie,  snuffle  and  whiffle :  and,  if  it  be  pos 
sible,  they  will  overreach  and  defraud  all  who  deal  with  them.  Indeed 
all  their  fine  pretences  to  religion  are  only  to  qualify  them  to  act  their 
villany  the  more  securely:  For  when  they  have  once  gained  a  great 
reputation  for  piety,  and  are  cried  up  by  their  neighbors  for  eminent 
saints,  every  one  will  be  ready  to  trust  to  their  honesty  in  any  affair  what 
soever  ;  though  they  seldom  fail  to  trick  and  bite  them,  as  a  reward  for 
their  credulity  and  good  opinion. 

This  sort  of  saints,  if  they  do  but  perform  a  few  duties  to  God 
Almighty  in  a  hypocritical  manner,  they  fondly  think  it  will  serve  to 
sanctify  their  villany  and  give  them  a  license  to  cut  their  neighbor's 
throats,  i.  e.  to  cheat  him  as  often  as  they  have  opportunity :  And,  no 
doubt,  had  they  the  advantage  in  their  hands,  they  would,  like  Judas, 
sell  their  Lord  and  Master  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  if  not  for  half  that 
value. 

It  is  far  worse  dealing  with  such  religious  hypocrites  than  with  the 
most  arrant  knave  in  the  world ;  and  if  a  man  is  nicked  by  a  notorious 
rogue,  it  does  not  vex  him  half  so  much  as  to  be  cheated  under  pretence 
of  religion. 

Whenever  these  men  are  striking  a  bargain,  or  making  any  kind  of 
agreement,  with  what  abundance  of  pious  cant  and  pallaver  will  they  do 


76  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

it  ?  and  all  that  they  may  have  the  better  opportunity  to  cheat  their 
neighbor ;  and  if  they  can  obtain  any  advantage  of  him,  they  will  not 
fail  to  improve  it  to  the  uttermost.  Thus,  sometimes  when  they  have 
made  a  firm  bargain  for  some  commodity  or  other,  and  the  money  to  be 
paid  on  receiving  it,  if  the  buyer  delay  his  coming  for.it  for  a  day  or 
two,  and  they  have  a  prospect  of  getting  more,  they  will  advance  tenor 
twenty  shillings  on  the  price,  and  exact  it  of  him.  Or  when  accounts 
(perhaps  of  laborers)  are  carried  in  to  them,  they  will  cut  off  a  consid 
erable  part,  which  is  as  justly  due  as  the  rest.  Or  if  they  have  made  a 
bargain  with  any,  which  proves  very  hard,  and  he  apply  himself  to  them 
for  abatement  and  relief,  none  can  be  obtained :  The  law  cannot  help 
him,  and  if  he  put  it  to  their  conscience,  why  they  have  none,  or  one  that 
is  seared  with  hot  iron.  Don't  tell  me,  (they  say,)  a  bargain  is  a  bargain ; 
You  should  have  looked  to  that  before ;  I  can't  help  it  now.  Indeed  it  were 
impossible  to  enumerate  the  many  tricks  and  artifices,  which  such  hypo 
critical  zealots  improve,  to  defraud  and  oven-each  those  they  deal  with. 
And  though  they  are  very  sly  and  cunning  in  their  wickedness,  yet  they 
are  often  detected:  Oportet  mendacem  esse  memoram.  A.  liar  (and  they 
that  will  cheat  will  lie)  had  need  have  a  good  memory,  lest  he  contradict 
and  discover  himself.  And  when  they  are  found  out,  they  never  want  fair 
words  and  fine  pretences  to  excuse  themselves.  They  will  often  varnish 
their  roguery  with  a  text  of  scripture,  and  allege,  that  if  they  are  not 
prudent  and  provident  in  looking  to  themselves,  they  shall  be  worse  than 
infidels. 

But  how  unaccountable  is  it,  that  men  who  profess  the  Christian  reli 
gion  should  do  those  things,  which  many  Turks  and  Heathens  would 
blush  to  mention !  Certainly  a  deceived  heart  hath  turned  them  aside,  and 
they  are  flattering  themselves  in  their  own  eyes,  until  their  iniquity  is  found 
to  be  hateful.  Whatever  high  pretences  such  men  make,  and  boast  of 
their  assurances  of  Heaven,  verily  they  have  neither  part  nor  lot  in  that 
matter ;  for  the  great  St.  Paul  has  told  us,  that  the  UNRIGHTEOUS 
shall  not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  GOD. 

For  my  own  part,  when  I  find  a  man  full  of  religious  cant  and  pel- 
laver,  I  presently  suspect  him  to  be  a  knave.  Religion  is,  indeed,  the 
principal  thing ;  but  too  much  of  it  is  worse  than  none  at  all.  The 
world  abounds  with  knaves  and  villains ;  but,  of  all  knaves,  the  religious 
knave  is  the  worst ;  and  villanies  acted  under  the  cloak  of  religion  are 
the  most  execrable.  Moral  honesty,  though  it  will  not  of  itself  carry  a 
man  to  heaven,  yet  I  am  sure  there  is  no  going  thither  without  it.  And 
however  such  men,  of  whom  I  have  been  speaking,  may  palliate  their 
wickedness,  they  will  find  that  publicans  and  harlots  will  enter  tJie  kingdom 
of  heaven  before  themselves. 


JAMES    FRANKLIN.  77 

But,  are  there  such  men  as  these  in  THEE,  O  New-England! 
Heaven  forbid  there  should  be  any :  But,  alas !  it  is  to  be  feared  the 
number  is  not  small.  A  few  such  men  have  given  cause  to  strangers 
(who  have  been  bit  by  them)  to  complain  of  us  greatly.  Give  me  an 
honest  man  (say  some)  for  all  a  religious  man  !  A  distinction  which,  I 
confess,  I  never  heard  before.  The  whole  country  suffers  for  the  villan- 
ies  of  a  few  such  wolves  in  sheep's  clothing,  and  we  are  all  represented 
as  a  pack  of  knaves  and  hypocrites  for  their  sake. 

Moreover,  religion  itself  suifers  extremely  by  the  dishonest  practices 
of  those  who  profess  it.  Their  cheating  tricks  have  a  tendency  to  harden 
such  as  are  disaffected  to  religion,  in  their  infidelity,  and  strengthen 
their  prejudices  against  it.  Why,  say  they,  such  and  such  religious  men 
will  lie,  cheat  and  defraud,  for  all  their  high  profession ;  and  so  they 
presently  conclude,  that  religion  itself  is  nothing  but  a  cunningly  devised 
fable,  a  trick  of  state  invented  to  keep  men  in  awe. 

This  is  a  Lamentation,  and  shall  be  for  a  Lamentation. 

A  second  communication  in  the  same  paper  speaks  of 
the  dangers  to  be  apprehended  from  the  contentions  and 
divisions,  that  exist  among  the  people,  and  accuses  them 
of  having  "  sinned  away  one  of  the  most  extensive 
blessings  "  they  were  ever  "  possessed  of"  —  alluding  to 
the  sudden  departure  of  Governor  Shute,  who,  on  the 
first  day  of  that  month,  had  sailed  for  England.  A 
third  communication  refers  also  to  the  "  extraordinary 
manner  of  Governor  Shute's  absenting  himself  from  the 
government,"  and  says  it  is  naturally  concluded,  that  any 
Governor  departing  from  a  government  with  so  much 
privacy  and  displeasure,  can't  reasonably  be  supposed  to 
promote  the  interest  of  that  government,  when  he  arrives 
at  the  British  Court.  The  writer  proposes  that  "  two 
persons,  born  among  us,  of  known  abilities  and  address, 
be,  as  soon  as  possible,  sent  to  the  Court  of  Great- 
Britain,  there  to  vindicate  the  proceedings  of  the  Hon 
orable  House  of  Representatives,  from  time  to  time, 
since  the  misunderstandings  that  have  arisen  between  that 
honorable  House  and  Governor  Shute."  He  concludes 


78  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

with  the  following  "  Qwere.  Whether  (pursuant  to  the 
charter)  the  ministers  of  this  province  ought  now  to  pray 
for  Samuel  Shute,  Esq.  as  our  immediate  Governor,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  pray  for  the  Lieutenant-Governor  as 
commander-in-chief  ?  Or,  Whether  their  praying  for  his 
success  in  his  voyage,  if  he  designs  to  hurt  the  province, 
(as  some  suppose)  be  not  in  effect  to  pray  for  our 
destruction  ? " 

The  day  on  which  these  articles  appeared,  the  follow 
ing  proceedings  were  had  in  the  General  Court :  — 

In  Council,  Jan.  14, 1722. 

Whereas  the  paper,  called  the  New-England  Courant,  of  this  day's 
date,  contains  many  passages,  in  which  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  per 
verted,  and  the  Civil  Government,  Ministers,  and  People  of  this  Prov 
ince  highly  reflected  on, 

Ordered,  That  William  Tailer,  Samuel  Sewell,  and  Penn  Townsend, 
Esqrs.  with  such  as  the  Honorable  House  of  Representatives  shall  join, 
be  a  committee  to  consider  and  report  what  is  proper  for  this  Court  to 
do  thereon. 

This  order  was  sent  to  the  House  of  Representatives 
and  was  concurred  in.  The  following  Report  was  made 
by  the  Committee,  and  adopted  by  both  branches  of  the 
government :  — 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  of  the  paper  called,  The 
New-England  Courant,  published  Monday  the  fourteenth  current,  are 
humbly  of  opinion  that  the  tendency  of  the  said  paper  is  to  mock  religion, 
and  bring  it  into  contempt,  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  therein  pro 
fanely  abused,  that  the  revered  and  faithful  ministers  of  the  gospel  are 
injuriously  reflected  on,  His  Majesty's  Government  affronted,  and  the 
peace  and  good  order  of  His  Majesty's  subjects  of  this  Province  dis 
turbed,  by  the  said  Courant ;  and  for  precaution  of  the  like  offence  for 
the  future,  the  Committee  humbly  propose,  That  James  Franklin,  the 
printer  and  publisher  thereof,  be  strictly  forbidden  by  this  Court  to  print 
or  publish  the  New-England  Courant,  or  any  other  pamphlet  or  paper 
of  the  like  nature,  except  it  be  first  supervised  by  the  Secretary  of 
this  Province;  and  the  Justices  of  His  Majesty's  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  at  their  next  adjournment,  be  di- 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  79 

rected  to  take  sufficient  bonds  of  the  said  Franklin,  for  Twelve  Months 
time. 

Franklin's  next  paper  after  the  publication  of  this 
order  contained  an  article,  purporting  to  be  the  advice  of 
a  correspondent,  and  pointing  out  a  line  of  conduct  for 
him,  as  the  publisher  of  a  paper,  that  should  secure  him 
thereafter  against  any  annoyances  from  the  government. 
In  reality,  the  piece  was  a  satire  upon  the  government, 
and  all  who  were  opposed  to  the  Courant,  —  quite  as 
severe  as  what  he  had  before  published.  The  Courant 
of  February  1 1  was  issued  in  the  name  of  Benjamin 
Franklin,*  who  thus  introduces  himself  to  the  public  :  — 

The  late  publisher  of  this  paper,  finding  so  many  inconveniences  would 
arise  by  his  carrying  the  manuscripts  and  public  news  to  be  supervised 
by  the  Secretary,  as  to  render  his  carrying  it  on  unprofitable,  has 
entirely  dropt  the  undertaking.  The  present  publisher  having  re 
ceived  the  following  piece,  desires  the  readers  to  accept  of  it  as  a 
preface  to  what  they  may  hereafter  meet  with  in  this  paper. 
Non  ego  mordaci  distrinxi  Carmine  quenquam, 

Nulla  venenato  Litera  mista  joco  est. 

Long  has  the  Press  groaned  in  bringing  forth  an  hateful  brood  of 
party  pamphlets,  malicious  scribbles,  and  billingsgate  ribaldry.  The 
rancor  and  bitterness  it  has  unhappily  infused  into  men's  minds,  and  to 
what  a  degree  it  has  soured  and  leavened  the  tempers  of  persons  formerly 
esteemed  some  of  the  most  sweet  and  affable,  is  too  well  known  here  to 
need  any  further  proof  or  representation  of  the  matter. 

No  generous  and  impartial  person,  then,  can  blame  the  present  under 
taking,  which  is  designed  purely  for  the  diversion  and  merriment  of  the 
reader.  Pieces  of  pleasancy  and  mirth  have  a  secret  charm  in  them  to 

*  Franklin  was  not  inclined  to  subject  his  paper  to  licensers  of  the  press,  and  he 
was  unwilling  to  stop  the  publication  of  it ;  but  he  dared  not  proceed  in  defiance 
of  the  order  of  the  Legislature.  The  Club  wished  for  the  continuance  of  the 
paper;  and  a  consultation  on  the  subject  was  holden  in  Franklin's  printing-house, 
the  result  of  which  was,  that,  to  evade  the  order  of  the  Legislature,  the  New- 
England  Courant  shouKI,  in  future.be  published  by  Benjamin  Franklin,  then  an 
apprentice  to  James.  *  *  *  The  Courant  was  published  in  the  name  of  Ben 
jamin  Franklin,  for  more  than  three  years;  and,  probably  until  its  publication 
ceased  ;  but  it  appears,  from  Dr.  Franklin's  Life,  that  he  did  not  remain  for  a  long 
time  with  his  brother  after  the  Courant  began  to  be  printed  in  hia  name. 

Thomas's  History  of  Printing,  vol.  i.  p.  310. 


80  NEW-ENGLAND     COURANT. 

allay  the  heats  and  tumors  of  our  spirits,  and  to  make  a  man  forget  his 
restless  resentments.  They  have  a  strange  power  in  them  to  hush  dis 
orders  of  the  soul,  and  reduce  us  to  a  serene  and  placid  state  of  mind. 

The  main  design  of  this  weekly  paper  will  be  to  entertain  the  town 
with  the  most  comical  and  diverting  incidents  of  human  life,  which,  in 
so  large  a  place  as  Boston,  will  not  fail  of  a  universal  exemplification  : 
Nor  shall  we  be  wanting  to  fill  up  these  papers  with  a  grateful  inter- 
spersion  of  more  serious  morals,  which  may  be  drawn  from  the  most 
ludicrous  and  odd  parts  of  life. 

As  for  the  author,  that  is  the  next  question.  But  though  we  profess 
ourselves  ready  to  oblige  the  ingenious  and  courteous  reader  with  most 
sorts  of  intelligence,  yet  here  we  beg  a  reserve.  Nor  will  it  be  of  any 
advantage  either  to  them  or  to  the  writers,  that  their  names  should  be 
published ;  and  therefore  in  this  matter  we  desire  the  favor  of  you  to 
suffer  us  to  hold  our  tongues :  which  though  at  this  time  of  day  it  may 
sound  like  a  very  uncommon  request,  yet  it  proceeds  from  the  very 
hearts  of  your  humble  servants. 

By  this  time  the  reader  perceives  that  more  than  one  are  engaged  in 
the  present  undertaking.  Yet  there  is  one  person,  an  inhabitant  of  this 
town  of  Boston,  whom  we  honor  as  a  doctor  in  the  chair,  or  a  perpetual 
dictator. 

The  society  had  designed  to  present  the  public  with  his  effigies,  but 
that  the  Limner,  to  whom  he  was  presented  for  a  draught  of  his  coun 
tenance,  descried  (and  this  he  is  ready  to  offer  upon  oath)  nineteen  fea 
tures  in  his  face,  more  than  he  ever  beheld  in  any  human  visage  before ; 
which  so  raised  the  price  of  his  picture,  that  our  master  himself  forbid 
the  extravagance  of  coming  up  to  it.  And  then,  besides,  the  Limner 
objected  a  schism  in  his  face,  which  split  it  from  his  forehead  in  a  straight 
line  down  to  his  chin,  in  such  sort,  that  Mr.  Painter  protests  it  is  a 
double  face,  and  he'll  have  four  pounds  for  the  portraiture.  However, 
though  his  double  face  has  spoilt  us  of  a  pretty  picture,  yet  we  all  re 
joiced  to  see  Old  James  in  our  company.  There  is  no  man  in  Boston 
better  qualified  than  Old  Janus  for  a  Couranteer,  or,  if  you  please,  an 
Observator^  being  a  man  of  such  remarkable  optics  as  to  look  two  ways  at 
once. 

As  for  his  morals,  he  is  a  cheerly  Christian,  as  the  country  phrase  ex 
presses  it.  A  man  of  good  temper,  courteous  deportment,  sound  judge 
ment,  a  mortal  hater  of  nonsense,  foppery,  formality,  and  endless  cere 
mony.  As  for  his  Club,  they  aim  at  no  greater  happiness  or  honor,  than 
the  public  be  made  to  know,  that  it  is  the  utmost  of  their  ambition  to 
attend  upon  and  do  all  imaginable  good  offices  to  good  Old  Janus  the 
Couranteer,  who  is  and  always  will  be  the  reader's  humble  servant. 

P.  S.     Gentle  Reader,  we  design  never  to  let  a  paper  pass  without  a 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  81 

Latin  motto  if  we  can  possibly  pick  one  up,  which  carries  a  charm  in  it 
to  the  vulgar,  and  the  learned  admire  the  pleasure  of  construing.  We 
should  have  obliged  the  world  with  a  Greek  scrap  or  two,  but  the  printer 
has  no  types,  and  therefore  we  entreat  the  candid  reader  not  to  impute 
the  defect  to  our  ignorance,  for  our  doctor  can  say  all  the  Greek  letters 
by  heart. 

These  papers  were  continued,  with  hardly  any  inter 
ruption,  for  two  years,  or  more.  Many  of  them  are 
exceedingly  well  written,  exposing  the  follies  of  the  day 
and  descanting  with  the  utmost  freedom  on  politics,  reli 
gion,  and  literature.  Some  of  the  criticisms  on  what 
was  then  popular  poetry  abound  in  wit  and  sarcasm. 
To  oblige  the  readers  of  the  Courant,  Old  Janus,  in  that 
paper  of  August  26,  1723,  copied  the  following  from 
the  News-Letter  of  the  preceding  week  :  —  * 

AD  RE  GEM. 

To  fix  the  Laws  and  Limits  of  these  Colonies, 

My  humble  Muse  to  Royal  GEORGE  now  flies. 

Live,  Mighty  King  !  all  Protestants  do  pray ; 

This  New  World,  too,  under  your  feet  I  lay ; 

May  Peace  &  Plenty,  in  your  Kingdoms !  Triumph  Round ; 

To  increase  your  Grandeur  !  yet  more  worlds  be  found  5 

And  to  your  Glories !  Let  there  be  no  bound. 

At  Boston  in  America,  the  first  of  August :  Spoken  Extempore  by 
John  Winthrop,  Esq  ;  before  his  Honour  the  Lieut  Governour  and  in  the 
presence  of  divers  Gentlemen  and  Ladies,  and  several  of  the  Clergy ; 
being  the  happy  Accession  of  his  Sacred  Royal  Majesty  King  GEORGE 
to  the  Imperial  Throne  of  Great  Britain. 

On  the  publication  of  this  one  of  J  anus's  correspond 
ents  wrote :  — 

To  the  worshipful  John   Winthrop  Esq;  on  his  inimitable  Genius  to 

Extempore  Poetry. 

Hail  Bard  Seraphic !  tell  what  generous  fire 
So  suddenly  thy  genius  did  inspire 
Ex  tempore  Great  George  to  compliment, 

*  The  typography  and  punctuation  are  here  preserved. 


82  NEW-ENGLAND     COURANT. 

And  with  him  undiscovered  worlds  present, 
Worlds  never  known  before,  worlds  old  and  new, 
Reserved  till  now  to  be  found  out  by  you, 
The  people's  customs  and  (the  clergy's  grace,) 
The  fashion  of  their  bodies  and  their  face. 
Describe  to  us ;  and  also  let  us  know 
If  they  are  made  like  us  from  top  to  toe, 
And  in  their  faces'  centre  if  their  noses  grow. 
And  if  as  big  as  yOurs  or  if  they're  less, 
Ingeniously  for  once  the  truth  confess, 
If  there's  a  symmetry  in  all  their  parts, 
And  if  they're  famous  for  poetic  arts  ; 
If  not,  Great  Sir,  I'd  have  you  there  retire 
And  with  you  take  each  member  of  your  quire, 
There  you  may  live  in  grandeur,  pomp  and  state, 
And  doubtless  you'll  be  made  a  Poet  Laureat.    hie  Cecinit 
Philo  Poesis  Extemporarii. 

In  1725,  the  contributions  of  the  correspondents  of 
Old  Janus  were  less  frequent,  and  their  places  in  the 
Courant  were  supplied  with  selections  from  London 
papers  and  other  popular  publications.  The  Life  of 
Jonathan  Wild,  the  famous  thief-taker,  who  was  execut 
ed  in  London  some  time  in  that  year,  was  published  in 
the  Courant,  —  a  portion  in  each  number,  from  the  first 
of  October  to  the  end  of  the  year. 

The  following  communication  appears,  April  30, 
1726  ;  and,  is  the  last  original  article  to  be  found  in  the 
volume  from  which  these  extracts  have  been  taken  :  — 

To  the   Worshipful  Master  JANUS. 

Cambridge,  April  25,  1726. 
SIR, 

The  poetic  performances  which  some  times  bloom  in  your  paper, 
not  only  afford  a  rich  entertainment  to  those  of  a  fine  and  delicate  im 
agination,  but  may,  by  their  heat  and  influence,  call  forth  from  the  womb 
of  some  great  and  hidden  genius  some  pieces  of  inestimable  value,  of 
which  the  public  might  otherwise  have  been  deprived. 

What  advantage  such  pieces  may  have  been  to  the  author  of  the  fol 
lowing  translation,  is  beyond  my  power  at  present  to  determine.  But 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  83 

the  commendation  which  the  public  hath  paid  to  the  last  piece  of  poetry 
inserted  in  the  Courant  has  encouraged  me  to  publish  this  beautiful 
Ode ;  with  some  assurance,  that  if  the  reception  is  but  correspondent 
to  the  merit  of  the  performance,  it  will  obtain  a  considerable  applause ; 
at  least  with  those  who  have  any  acquaintance  with  the  charms  of  the 
original.  Yours,  &c. 

HORACE,  Ode  the  XYI.  Lib  II.     To  Grosphus. 
Through  all  mankind  impatient  ardors  reign, 
To  live  a  life  of  ease  secure  from  pain  ; 
The  sailor,  on  the  ^Egean  billows  tost, 
By  gloomy  clouds  the  Moon's  fair  lustre  lost, 
And  stars  no  more  seen  with  their  radiant  fires 
To  guide  th'  uncertain  ship,  soft  rest  desires. 
In  feats  of  war,  the  furious  Thracians  skilled, 
And  Medes,  with  whizzing  deaths  to  win  the  field, 
With  thirsty  soul,  O  Grosphus !  Ease  explore, 
More  worth  than  shining  beds  of  yellow  ore, 
Or  purple  garments  stained  with  Tyrian  dies 
Which  gems  enlighten,  as  the  stars  the  skies. 
Not  sums  immense,  which  greedy  avarice  heaps, 
Nor  honor's  greedy  train,  which  o'er  the  vulgar  sweeps, 
Can  soothe  the  cares  which  haunt  a  monarch's  breast, 
And  flying  round  the  court  his  thoughts  molest. 
Happy  the  man,  the  breathings  of  whose  mind 
Are  in  the  circle  of  his  power  confined ; 
Whose  sleep  no  fears  disturb,  his  life  no  care, 
But  at  his  table  dines  on  homely  fare ; 
And  from  the  sordid  lust  of  riches  free, 
From  his  clear  thought  all  brooding  sorrows  flee. 
Condemn'd  to  breathe  on  Earth  a  narrow  space 
We  many  things  and  mighty  projects  chase : 
To  foreign  realms,  self-banished  from  our  own, 
With  anxious  speed  from  pressing  griefs  we  run : 
In  vain  our  haste,  while  in  the  conscious  soul 
The  angry  gods  their  killing  horrors  roll. 
A  guilty  gloom  hangs  hovering  o'er  the  ships, 
And  in  the  minds  of  running  squadrons  leaps. 
Pursuing  cares  bound  swifter  than  the  deer, 
Chased  by  the  bloody  hounds  and  trembling  fear, 
On  the  fleet  pinions  of  the  eastern  wind, 
Which  veil  the  sun,  and  leave  the  hours  behind : 
While  swift  as  light  the  clouds  impetuous  fly, 


84  NEW-ENGLAND     COURANT. 

And  spread  with  sack-cloth  all  the  azure  sky. 
With  eager  joy  let's  grasp  the  present  hour, 
And  leave  the  future,  placed  beyond  our  power. 
Let  smiles  with  gentle  breezes  soothe  the  tide 
Of  swelling  grief,  and  restless  fears  subside, 
Since  various  pleasures  join  to  make  us  blest, 
Denied  from  some,  we'll  live  upon  the  rest. 
Achilles,  though  with  fame  immortal  crowned, 
Death's  fatal  shaft  stretched  prostrate  on  the  ground : 
And  Tithon,  who  a  longer  age  obtains, 
Yet  loathes  a  life  curst  with  perpetual  pains, 
And,  mad  with  fury,  gnaws  his  endless  chains. 
Perhaps  on  me  the  smiling  hours  bestow 
The  pleasures  which  my  friend  will  never  know. 
What  though  a  hundred  flocks  your  fields  adorn, 
And  bowing  heads  salute  the  rising  morn ; 
Though  flying  steeds  before  your  chariot  spring, 
And  in  your  ears  the  shrieking  axils  ring : 
Though  robes  twice  in  the  Tyrian  tincture  laid, 
Around  you  their  majestic  honors  spread : 
On  me  the  Fates  with  partial  bounty  shine, 
And  spin  the  thread  of  life  more  soft  and  fine. 
Small  is  my  house,  surrounded  with  the  shades 
Of  gloomy  forests  and  delightful  glades, 
Where  all  the  Nine  my  ravished  breast  inspire 
And  light  with  flames  of  their  poetic  fire, 
Here  raised  above  the  world,  my  lofty  eyes 
View  the  low  Vulgar,  and  their  gaze  despise. 

The  following  scraps  of  news  and  advertisements, 
will  be  sufficient  to  give  an  idea  of  the  style  in  which 
such  matters  were  clad,  a  century  and  a  quarter  ago, 
and  with  them  our  extracts  from  the  Courant  will 
close  :  — 

Boston,  Feb.  1.  They  write  from  Plymouth,  that  an  extraordinary 
event  has  lately  happened  in  that  neighborhood,  in  which,  some  say, 
the  Devil  and  the  man  of  the  house  are  very  much  to  blame.  The  man, 
it  seems,  would  now  and  then  in  a  frolic  call  upon  the  Devil  to  come 
down  the  chimney ;  and  some  little  time  after  the  last  invitation,  the 
good  wife's  pudding  turned  black  in  the  boiling,  which  she  attributed  to 
the  Devil's  descending  the  chimney,  and  getting  into  the  pot,  upon  her 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  85 

husband's  repeated  wishes  for  him.  Great  numbers  of  people  have  been 
to  view  the  pudding,  and  to  inquire  into  the  circumstances ;  and  most 
of  them  agree  that  a  sudden  change  must  be  produced  by  a  preternatu 
ral  power.  But  some  good  Housewives  of  a  chymical  turn  assign  a 
natural  cause  for  it.  However,  'tis  thought,  it  will  have  this  good  effect 
upon  the  man  that  he  will  no  more  be  so  free  with  the  Devil  in  his 
cups,  lest  his  Satanic  Majesty  should  again  unluckily  tumble  into  the 
pot. 

Newbury,  June  14. —  A  serpent  was  killed  here  this  week,  about  two 
foot  long,  with  two  perfect  heads,  one  at  each  end ;  in  each  head  were 
two  eyes  and  a  mouth,  and  in  each  mouth  a  forked  sting,  both  which  he 
thrust  out  at  the  same  time  with  equal  fierceness.  The  manner  of  his 
defence  was,  raising  up  his  heads  about  two  inches  from  the  ground ; 
he  always  kept  one  directed  towards  his  adversary,  thrusting  out  both 
his  stings  at  once.  The  lad  that  killed  him  affirmed  that  when  he  was 
running,  if  his  motion  was  obstructed  one  way,  he  would  run  directly 
the  contrary  way  and  never  turn  his  body.  One  head  was  something 
bigger  than  the  other,  and  from  the  biggest  to  the  other  his  body  was 
somewhat  taper-wise,  but  in  a  far  less  proportion  than  in  common 
snakes.  I  the  subscriber  with  several  others  saw  the  said  serpent  just 
after  he  was  killed,  and  can  testify  to  all  above-written,  except  his  mo 
tions  described  by  the  lad,  who  only  saw  him  alive. 

Nath.  Coffin. 

Boston,  Aug.  10.  We  are  advised  from  Eastham,  that  Mr.  Israel  Cole 
of  that  place,  lately  died  worth  10000Z.  2000  of  which  he  left  to  four 
grandchildren,  and  8000  to  his  only  son  of  the  same  name,  who  in  re 
turn  for  his  father's  extraordinary  frugality  in  his  life,  and  good  will  at 
his  death,  ordered  the  most  magnificent  interment  for  him  that  has  been 
known  in  New-England ;  which  was  performed  in  the  following  manner. 
The  corpse  being  inclosed  in  a  beautiful  coffin,  was  decently  laid  in  a 
sled,  and  drawn  to  the  grave  by  a  yoke  of  oxen ;  who  notwithstanding 
they  supplied  the  place  of  porters  and  pall-bearers,  and  had  neither 
gloves,  scarves  nor  rings  for  their  trouble,  yet  'tis  not  doubted  but  this 
neglect  is  entirely  owing  to  the  traders  in  these  parts,  who  deal  in  such 
funeral  ornaments  as  are  fit  only  for  human  bodies.  The  Heir  attended 
the  funeral  without  any  thing  of  mourning  apparel,  which  must  be 
attributed  to  a  generous  scorn  of  the  deceitful  pomp  and  glory  of  hypo 
critical  mourners,  and  not  to  any  narrowness  of  spirit  in  him,  whose 
spacious  soul  extends  to  the  utmost  bounds  of  his  land,  and  to  the  very 
bottom  of  his  chests. 
8 


86  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

THE   EPITAPH. 

Here  lies  old  Cole ;  but  how  or  why 
He  lived,  or  how  he  came  to  die, 
His  son  and  heir  may  but  declare  it, 
Who's  doubly  blessed  with  father's  spirit ; 
And  who,  whene'er  he  comes  to  breathe  all 
His  useless  breath  away,  and  leave  all 
To  such  another  son  and  heir, 
He  may  be  thrown  —  but  God  knows  where : 
Perhaps  in  some  black  chymist's  dark  hole, 
Where  out  of  wood  he  extracts  charcoal. 

Boston,  Sept.  16.  Last  week  a  Council  of  Churches  was  held  at  the 
South  Part  of  Brantrey,  to  regulate  the  Disorders  occasioned  by  Regu 
lar  Singing  in  that  place,  Mr.  Nile,  the  minister  having  suspended  seven 
or  eight  of  the  Church  for  persisting  in  their  Singing  by  Rule,  contrary 
(as  he  apprehended)  to  the  result  of  a  former  Council;  but  by  this 
Council  the  suspended  Brethren  are  restored  to  Communion,  their  Sus 
pension  declared  unjust,  and  the  Congregation  ordered  to  sing  by  Rote 
and  by  Rule  alternately,  for  the  Satisfaction  of  both  parties. 

Boston,  Decemb.  9.  We  have  advice  from  the  South  Part  of  Bran- 
trey,  that  on  Sunday  the  First  Instant,  Mr.  Niles  the  Minister  of  that 
Place,  performed  the  Duties  of  the  Day  at  his  Dwelling  House,  among 
those  of  his  Congregation  who  are  opposers  of  Regular  Singing.  The 
Regular  Singers  met  together  at  the  Meeting  House,  and  sent  for  Mr. 
Niles,  who  refused  to  come  unless  they  would  first  promise  not  to  sing 
Regularly ;  whereupon  they  concluded  to  edify  themselves  by  the 
Assistance  of  one  of  the  Deacons,  who  at  their  Desire  prayed  with 
them,  read  a  Sermon,  &c. 

Boston,  Sept.  25.  They  write  from  Marblehead,  that  on  Monday  the 
15th  inst.  a  farmer  about  two  miles  from  that  town,  hearing  a  noise 
among  his  swine,  run  out  and  discovered  a  Bear  making  off  the  ground 
on  his  hind  legs,  having  the  good  man's  Sow  hugged  up  in  his  fore 
paws.  They  soon  dispatched  the  Bear,  in  hopes  of  relieving  the  Sow ; 
but  it  proved  too  late,  for  the  Bear  had  broke  her  back,  and  squeezed 
her  to  death.  The  sow  is  supposed  to  be  about  200  weight.  The  Bear 
weighed  50  pounds  a  quarter  when  dressed. 

'Tis  thought  that  not  less  than  20  Bears  have  been  killed  in  about  a 
week's  time  within  two  miles  of  Boston.  Two  have  been  killed  below 
the  Castle,  as  they  were  swimming  from  one  island  to  another,  and  one 
attempted  to  board  a  boat  out  in  the  bay,  but  the  men  defended  them 
selves  so  well  with  the  boat-hook  and  oars,  that  they  put  out  her  eyes, 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN.  87 

and  then  killed  her.  On  Tuesday  last,  two  were  killed  at  Dorchester, 
one  of  which  weighed  60  pounds  a  quarter.  We  hear  from  Providence 
that  the  bears  appear  very  thick  in  those  parts. 

Boston,  Oct.  23.  On  Tuesday  last  there  was  a  general  Training  at 
Charles  town,  where  6  companies  of  Foot  and  2  Troop  of  Horse  were 
mustered  and  exercised,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  a  great  number  of 
spectators,  who  discovered  a  far  greater  degree  of  the  Military  spirit 
than  in  our  Boston  Militia,  particularly  by  one  company,  commonly 
called  Charlestown  Wood  Men,  who  appeared  in  their  regimental 
apparel ;  that  is  to  say,  their  hats  were  all  bound  with  white  paper,  and 
some  of  them  had  blue  stockings  worked  with  white. 

Oct.  30.  A  lad  of  about  17  years  of  age,  having  lately  enticed  3 
children,  all  about  3  or  4  years  of  age,  into  by  places  of  the  town,  bar 
barously  whipt  them,  and  ('tis  thought)  otherways  abominably  abused 
them,  was  this  week  accidentally  discovered  by  one  of  the  children  as 
he  passed  along  the  street,  and  committed  to  Bridewell,  where  he  con- 
fest  he  whipt  them,  but  said  he  could  not  tell  for  what. 

Feb.  26,  1726.  The  Lad  (mentioned  in  one  of  our  former  papers) 
who  barbarously  whipped  several  children,  being  found  guilty  at  our 
Superior  Court,  this  week  received  sentence  to  be  whipped  39  lashes  at 
the  Cart's  Tail,  12  at  the  gallows,  13  at  the  head  of  Summer-street,  and 
13  below  the  Town- Ho  use,  and  to  be  committed  to  Bridewell  for  six 
months. 

Boston,  March  26.  We  are  at  present  amused  with  a  very  odd  story 
from  Martha's  Vineyard,  which,  however,  is  affirmed  for  a  truth  by 
some  persons  lately  come  from  thence,  viz.  That  at  a  certain  house  in 
Edgar  Town,  a  plain  Indian  pudding  being  put  into  the  pot  and  boiled 
the  usual  time,  it  came  out  of  a  blood-red  color,  to  the  great  surprize  of 
the  whole  family.  The  cause  of  this  great  alteration  in  the  pudding  is 
not  yet  known,  though  it  has  been  matter  of  great  speculation  in  the 
neighborhood. 
Advertisement. 

If  there  be  any  person  that  has  imposed  his  surreptitious  Digits  or 
Bubonic  Apthalins,  on  the  Globular  Rotundity  of  an  Hatt,  tinctured 
with  Nigridity,  let  him  convey  his  Intelligencies  to  the  Preconic  Poten 
tate,  where  the  sonorous  Jar  of  his  Tintinnabular  Instrument,  by  a 
tremulous  Perversion  of  the  Minute  ^Ereal  Particles,  affecting  the 
Auricular  Organs,  make  an  Impression  on  the  Cerebral  Part  of  his 
Microcosm ;  and  he  shall  receive  a  Premeial  Donation  adapted  to  the 
Magnitude  of  the  Benefit,  whether  the  Hat  has  titillated  his  Manual 
nerves,  or  only  struck  the  Capilliments  of  his  Optic  Nerve. 


88  NEW-ENGLAND    COURANT. 

Just  published,  and  Sold  by  the  Printer  hereof. 

*+*   HOOP-PETTICOATS  Arraigned  and  Condemned,  by  the  Light  of 
Nature,  and  Law  of  God.    Price  3d. 

Advertisement.  There  has  been  preparing,  and  is  now  published,  and 
to  be  sold  by  Samuel  Gerrish,  bookseller  in  Cornhill,  Boston,  A  collec 
tion  of  PSALM  TUNES  in  three  Parts,  Treble,  Medias  and  Bass,  28 
consisting  of  74  lines,  or  common  Tunes,  and  ten  more  consisting  of 
8  lines,  or  double  Tunes.  Printed  from  a  Copper-Plate,  most  curiously 
and  correctly  engraved,  and  in  a  page  fit  to  be  bound  up  with  the  com 
mon  Psalm  Books.  Persons  may  have  Psalm  Books  with  these  Tunes 
bound,  for  5s.  6d.  a  piece,  or  the  Tunes  single  for  3s.  a  Set.  And  by 
the  Doz.  with  usual  and  proper  Abatements,  and  cheaper  still  by  the  100. 

It  is  stated  by  Mr.  Thomas  that  the  publication  of  the 
Courant  ceased  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1727. 
James  Franklin,  at  a  subsequent  period,  removed  to 
Newport,  R.  I.  and  established  a  paper  there,  —  the 
first  in  that  colony. 

It  is  presumed  that  none  of  the  names  of  the  writers 
for  the  Courant  are  known  at  the  present  day,  except 
that  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  his  whole  history  is  as 
familiar  to  most  readers  as  household  words.  His  auto 
biography  is  one  of  the  most  delightful  narratives  that 
the  press  has  ever  sent  forth  to  the  world.  It  has 
been  re-written  for  various  publications,  and  published, 
times  almost  innumerable,  with  additions,  embellishments, 
and  commentaries.  His  name  has  been  rendered  im 
mortal  by  his  private  virtues,  and  his  public  services, 
and  sheds  a  splendor  around  the  typographic  art,  of 
which  every  printer  makes  a  boast,  while  he  feels  that 
he  is  in  some  degree  a  partaker  in  the  honor  conferred 
on  his  profession  by  Franklin. 


THE  NEW -ENGLAND  WEEKLY  JOURNAL. 


THE  first  number  of  this  paper  was  published  on  Mon 
day,  March  20,  1727.  The  imprint  was  —  "  BOSTON  : 
Printed  by  S.  KNEELAND,  at  the  Printing-House  in 
Queen-Street,  where  Advertisements  are  taken  in."  It 
was  a  half  sheet  of  fools-cap,  two  pages,  with  two  col 
umns  in  a  page,  printed  chiefly  in  Brevier  type.  The 
opening  address  of  the  publisher  was  set  in  Pica  Italic, 
beginning  with  a  four-line  letter,  and  read  thus  :  — 

It  would  be  needless  to  mention  here  the  particular  Reasons  for  Pub 
lishing  this  Paper ;  and  will  be  sufficient  to  say,  That  the  Design  of  it  is, 
with  Fidelity  and  Method  to  Entertain  the  Publick  every  Monday  with 
a  Collection  of  the  most  Remarkable  Occurrences  of  Europe,  with  a 
particular  Regard  from  time  to  time  to  the  present  Circumstances  of  the 
Publick  Affairs,  whether  of  Church  or  State.  And  to  render  this 
Paper  more  Acceptable  to  its  Readers,  immediate  care  will  be  taken 
(and  a  considerable  progress  is  herein  already  made)  to  settle  a  Corre 
spondence  with  the  most  knowing  and  ingenious  Gentlemen  in  the  several 
noted  Towns  in  this  and  the  Neighbour-Provinces,  who  may  take  par 
ticular  Care  seasonably  to  Collect  and  send  what  may  be  remarkable 
in  their  Town  or  Towns  adjacent  worthy  of  the  Publick  View ;  whether 
of  Remarkable  Judgments,  or  Singular  Mercies,  more  private  or  public ; 
Preservations  &  Deliverances  by  Sea  or  Land:  together  with  some 
other  Pieces  of  History  of  our  own,  &c.  that  may  be  profitable  &  en 
tertaining  both  to  the  Christian  and  Historian.  It  is  likewise  intended 
to  insert  in  this  Paper  a  Weekly  Account  of  the  Number  of  Persons 
Buried,  &  Baptized,  in  the  Town  of  Boston :  With  several  other  Things 
that  at  present  can  only  be  thought  of,  that  may  be  of  Service  to  the 
8* 


90  NEW-ENGLAND     WEEKLY    JOURNAL. 

Publick :  And  special  care  will  be  taken  that  nothing  contrary  thereto 
shall  be  inserted. 

Those  Gentlemen  therefore  whether  in  Town  or  Country,  who  are 
inclined  to  Encourage  and  take  this  Paper,  may  have  it  left  at  their 
Houses  in  the  Town  of  Boston  or  Charlestown,  or  seal'd  up,  Directed 
and  Convey'd  as  they  shall  Order,  giving  Notice  at  the  Printing- House 
in  Queen-Street  Boston. 

The  Price  of  this  Paper  to  those  that  live  in  the  Town  will  be  Sixteen 
Shillings  per  year,  and  Twenty  Shillings  if  Seal'd,  &c.  and  to  be  paid 
Quarterly. 

05^  This  may  serve  as  a  Notification,  that  a  Select  number  of  Gen 
tlemen,  who  have  had  the  happiness  of  a  liberal  Education,  and  some 
of  them  considerably  improv'd  by  their  Travels  into  distant  Countries  ; 
are  now  concerting  some  regular  Schemes  for  the  Entertainment  of  the 
ingenious  Reader,  and  the  Encouragement  of  Wit  and  Politeness  ;  and 
may  in  a  very  short  time,  open  upon  the  Public  in  a  variety  of  pleasing 
and  profitable  Speculations. 

This  address  is  followed  by  sundry  articles  under  the 
head  of  "  Foreign  Affairs,"  taken  from  the  London 
Journal  of  October  15, 1726,  —  five  months  earlier  than 
the  date  of  the  Weekly  Journal.  Then  follows  entries 
and  clearances  at  the  custom-houses  in  Philadelphia, 
New-York,  Salem,  and  New-Hampshire,' — an  account 
of  the  annual  town-meeting  in  Boston  for  the  election  of 
municipal  officers,  —  a  paragraph  of  news  from  the 
West-Indies,  —  Burials  and  Baptisms  in  the  town  of 
Boston,  -<-  entries  and  clearances  at  the  Boston  custom 
house, —  and  sundry  articles  of  intelligence,  communi 
cated,  apparently,  by  the  "  knowing  and  ingenious  gen 
tlemen  "  mentioned  in  the  introductory  address.  Three 
short  advertisements  fill  up  the  remainder  of  the  sheet. 
The  first,  a  sale  of  household  furniture  at  public  ven- 
due,  —  the  second,  "a  convenient  piece  of  land  for  a 
house  lot "  —  the  third,  — 

*|*  James  Lubback  Chocolate- Grinder,  Living  near  Mr.  Colman's 
Meeting  House  in  Boston,  sells  the  best  Chocolate  by  Wholesale  and 


SAMUEL  KNEELAND.  9! 

Ketail  at  the  lowest  Prices :  He  also  takes  in  Cocoa-Nuts  to  grind  with 
expedition,  at  six  pence  per  pound. 

This  sheet  was  probably  issued  as  a  specimen  of  what 
the  publisher  intended  to  present  to  the  public, — the 
next  sheet,  issued  March  27,  being  "  Number  I. "  and 
the  numbers  then  following  in  regular  order. 

In  the  third  number  of  the  Journal,  April  10,  (which 
is  a  whole  sheet  of  four  folio  pages,)  is  the  first  of  a 
series  of  essays  which  were  continued  to  the  end  of  the 
year.  There  is  no  title  to  these  essays.  To  each  of 
them  is  prefixed  a  motto,  usually  taken  from  a  Latin 
Poet.  The  introductory  paper,  which  here  follows,  is 
not  inferior  in  easy  and  quiet  humor  to  those,  in  which 
Steele,  Addison,  and  Mackenzie  introduced  themselves 
to  the  readers  of  the  Tattler,  Spectator,  and  Mirror :  — 

NO.  I. 

Sunt  quibus  in  plures  jus  est  transire  figuras. 
Ovid.  Met. 

An  ingenious  Author  has  observed,  that  a  Reader  seldom  peruses  a 
Book  with  Pleasure,  'till  he  has  a  tolerable  notion  of  the  Physiognomy 
of  the  Author,  the  Year  of  his  Birth,  and  his  manner  of  living,  with 
several  other  Particulars  of  the  like  Nature,  very  necessary  to  the  right 
understanding  his  Works.  This  Humour  I  find  not  a  little  remarkable 
in  my  own  Countrymen,  who  since  the  Advertisement  which  I  lately 
published,  have  been  very  busy  in  their  conjectures  at  my  Name,  the 
place  of  my  Abode,  and  my  Circumstances  of  Life.  Many  have  sup 
posed  me  to  be  a  certain  young  Gentleman,  who  has  given  the  Town 
several  beautiful  Pieces  of  Poetry :  Though  others  say  I  am  lately 
arrived  from  England,  accomplished  in  Mathematical  Learning.  I  have 
been  frequently  reported  to  wear  a  Band,  and  as  often  represented  as  a 
Merchant,  wrapt  up  in  a  Callimanco  Night-Gown,  and  seated  very  con 
veniently  in  a  Compting-House.  Sometimes  I  have  been  dispatch'd  to 
Cambridge  under  Form  of  a  Scholar,  while  some  have  not  scrupled  to 
divest  me  of  all  these  my  Dignities,  and  clap  me  into  the  Habit  of  an 
old  Almanac-Maker. 

To  rectify  the  Judgment  of  my  Readers  in  this  important  matter, 
and  to  sooth  the  Curiosity  of  these  inquisitive  Gentlemen,  I  shall  here 


92  NEW-ENGLAND     WEEKLY    JOURNAL. 

give  them  a  brief  Account  of  myself,  without  Prejudice  or  Partiality. 
I  was  born  in  the  Year  1666,  in  a  small  Cottage  at  Salem,  which  is  the 
principal  Reason,  as  I  have  been  apt  to  imagine,  that  People  have 
sometimes  suspected  me  for  a  Conjuror.  Though  when  I  have  often 
examined  myself  in  that  Particular,  I  have  thought,  as  far  as  I  know 
of  my  own  Heart,  that  I  have  looked  like  another  Christian.  But  as 
this  is  a  Case  of  Conscience,  fitter  to  be  decided  by  Divines  and  others 
skilled  in  those  Affairs,  than  by  me^who  am  but  a  simple  Lay-man,  I 
shall  refer  it  to  their  Consideration,  and  at  present  dismiss  it.  How 
ever  I  may  possibly  in  the  course  of  this  Work,  from  Time  to  Time, 
offer  to  the  World,  such  Reasons  as  incline  me  to  the  negative  side  of 
the  Question,  that  I  am  no  Wizard :  But  that  being  only  my  own  pri 
vate  Opinion,  I  shall  not  presume  to  palm  it  upon  others. 

THE  most  remarkable  Passage  of  my  Childhood,  was,  a  wonderful 
Talent  I  had  to  imitate  any  thing  that  I  saw  or  heard.  I  could  grunt 
like  a  Hog,  roar  like  a  Lion,  or  bellow  like  a  Bull.  I  was  once  very 
near  being  worried  by  a  pack  of  rascally  Dogs,  who  took  me  for  a  Fox, 
I  deceived  their  Ears  with  so  natural  a  Squeal :  And  I  was  a  particular 
Favorite  of  all  the  Hens  in  the  Neiborhood,  I  rival'd  the  Cock  with  a 
Crow  so  very  exquisite  &  inimitable.  I  will  add.  for  the  Satisfaction 
and  Emolument  of  my  Enemies,  that  when  I  Hoot  they  would  infalli 
bly  take  me  for  an  Owl ;  as  also  on  occasion  I  can  Bray  so  very  ad- 
van  tagiously,  that  few  Asses  can  go  beyond  me. 

NAY  to  such  a  Perfection  am  I  arrived  in  the  Art  of  Mimickry,  that 
I  am  able  not  only  to  take  any  sound  that  I  hear,  but  I  have  a  Faculty 
of  looking  like  any  Body  I  think  fit.  There  is  no  Person  that  ever  I 
have  seen  but  I  can  immediately  throw  all  his  Features  into  my  Face, 
assume  his  air  and  monopolize  his  whole  Countenance.  I  remember 
when  I  was  a  School-Boy  my  Master  once  gave  me  an  unlucky  Rap  on 
my  Pate,  for  a  Fault  committed  by  Giles  Horror,  whose  Visage  I  had  at 
that  time  unfortunately  put  on.  Esau  Absent  may  remember  me  to  this 
day,  if  he  be  living,  how  his  mother  took  me  for  him,  when  I  marched  off 
in  Triumph,  with  a  huge  Lunch  of  Bread  and  Butter,  that  was  just 
spread  for  Esau's  Dinner.  I  am  the  more  large  on  this  part  of  my 
character,  because  it  is  in  a  great  measure,  the  Ground-work  of  these 
Lucubrations,  inasmuch  as  I  intend  frequently  to  write  in  Quality  of  an 
Imitator.  My  way  of  bantering  a  Folly  shall  be  to  represent  it  as  in  a 
Glass,  and  I  shall  make  it  Ridiculous  by  exposing  it  just  as  it  is.  If  I 
criticise  upon  any  incorrect  Performances,  my  Readers  must  not  wonder 
if  my  Criticism  is  incorrect ;  As  on  the  other  Hand,  If  I  have  occasion 
to  commend  any  beautiful  or  sublime  Production,  I  shall  endeavor  to 
write  in  the  Spirit  of  such  an  Author.  Tho'  as  to  this  last  Point,  I 


SAMUEL     KNEELAND.  93 

must  acknowledge,  I  am  very  much  afraid  I  shall  fail !  For  to  confess 
a  secret  which  I  desire  may  go  no  further,  I  find  I  can  with  much  more 
Ease  £  Facility,  tread  in  the  Steps  of  a  grub-street  or  bombastick  Writer, 
than  of  one  whose  Compositions  are  finished  with  Purity  and  Elo 
quence.  I  own  it  is  a  considerable  Grief  to  me  to  reflect  how  much 
more  able  I  am  to  follow  People  in  their  Infirmities  than  in  their  good 
Examples ;  and  with  what  dexterity  I  can  write  Improbabilities  and 
Contradictions,  when  I  am  obliged  to  take  such  pains  to  attain  to  any 
tolerable  degree  of  Propriety  &  Exactness.  This  reduces  my  Capacity 
for  Imitation  to  the  uncomfortable  Diminution  of  Apishness  &  Buf 
foonery  ;  so  that  I  have  often  with  great  shame  of  Heart,  secretly  com 
pared  myself  to  a  Monkey.  Those  who  have  given  us  accounts  of  the 
East-Indies  tell  us  of  a  certain  Bird  there,  which  its  Fellow-Inhabitants 
call  the  Mock-Bird.  This  Gentleman  in  Feathers,  is  remarkable  for  hav 
ing  no  Note  of  his  own,  but  is  beholden  to  every  Sound  he  hears  for 
his  Accent.  The  Rustling  of  the  Leaves  on  the  Trees,  the  Rilling  of 
Brooks,  the  Noise  of  the  several  Beasts,  the  Songs  of  other  Birds,  or 
the  Words  of  Men,  are  alike  to  him ;  and  he  repeats  them  all  with  equal 
Nicety  and  Art.  I  cannot  but  look  upon  myself,  as  having  a  remote 
Affinity  to  that  Bird,  in  that  I  can  pretend  to  no  Fund  of  good  sense 
in  my  Mind,  but  must  be  obliged  perpetually  to  one  Author  or  another 
for  Patterns  to  copy  after,  or  else  I  must  e'en  be  contented  to  hold  my 
Tongue. 

I  have  now  finished  two  momentous  Articles,  viz.  my  Age  &  my 
Aspect  to  which  I  have  added  the  Tongue  of  my  Voice.  It  remains 
that  I  say  something  of  my  present  Condition,  and  this  I  shall  do,  (as 
an  ingenious  Author  whom  lam  now  imitating  has  admirably  expressed 
it)  in  a  very  clear  and  concise  manner.  But  first  I  must  acquaint  my 
Readers  with  some  former  Parts  of  my  Life,  without  which  my  History 
will  be  very  imperfect  and  incomplete. 

KNOW  then  that  when  I  was  Three  Years  old,  I  was  sent  to  School 
to  a  Mistress,  where  I  learned  to  read  with  great  Expedition  &  Dis 
patch  ;  for  which  Reason,  in  my  Fifth  Year,  I  was  taken  away  and  put 
to  a  Writing-Master.  In  my  seventh  Year  I  could  flourish  a  tolerable 
Hand,  and  began  my  Grammar.  By  that  time  I  was  Fourteen,  I  was 
a  considerable  Proficient  in  the  Latin  &  Greek  Languages  and  was  ad 
mitted  into  Harvard  College.  I  staid  a  member  of  that  learned  Body 
the  usual  Time,  and  then  entered  upon  my  Travels  to  China,  Japan,  & 
Bantam,  in  the  latter  of  which  I  continued  several  Years  Fellow  of  a  So 
ciety  of  Brachmans,  from  whom  I  learned  many  curious  Secrets,  which 
it  may  be  I  shall  in  some  of  my  subsequent  Entertainments  communi 
cate  to  the  Publick.  It  was  in  these  my  Peregrinations,  that  I  used  every 


94  NEW-ENGLAND    WEEKLY    JOURNAL. 

Week  to  note  down,  in  a  Book  which  I  Provided  for  that  Purpose,  all 
those  things  that  I  met  with,  and  thought  worthy  Remark.  From  which 
Origin  my  Paper  derives  its  Title,  for  being  so  used  to  the  Name,  I 
could  think  of  nothing  more  readily  than,  The  WEEKLY  JOURNAL. 

I  must  not  omit  one  old  Stroke  of  my  Character,  which  seems  to  be 
peculiar  to  my  self;  that,  though  I  out-stripped  all  my  Sodales  in  every 
other  Study,  I  could  never  attain  to  any  tolerable  understanding  in 
Arethmetick.  While  I  was  at  School  I  remember  I  was  not  able  by 
any  methods  I  could  make  use  of,  to  lay  three  Figures  together,  and 
compute  what  would  be  the  Total :  Unless  they  happen'd  to  be  three 
Unites,  and  then  I  took  care  to  bear  in  mind,  that  my  Master  often  told 
me  they  would  amount  to  just  3.  Indeed  I  am  at  Present  a  better  Mas 
ter  of  numbers  than  so,  having  by  many  Years  close  Application,  joyned 
with  the  Instructions  and  Assistances  of  the  Brachmans  arrived  as  far 
in  that  Science,  as  Addition  of  Money,  which  is  no  little  consolation  to 
me  in  this  my  declining  Old  Age.  And  as  this  is  a  Subject  upon  which 
I  have  of  late  years  delighted  much  to  dwell  upon,  I  shall  acquaint  my 
Readers,  that  I  am  a  very  Rich  Old  Fellow,  hale  and  fresh,  in  the  Six 
tieth  Spring  of  my  Life.  In  the  richest  Tiller  of  my  Chest,  in  all 
humane  Probability,  there  cannot  be  less  than  One  Pound  Thirteen 
Shillings  &  Seven  Pence  Half-Penny.  This  I  am  the  more  willing  to 
make  known  (tho'  otherwise  I  love  to  keep  my  own  Council  in  these 
matters  of  money,  ever  since  I  once  had  two  pence  stole  from  me,  when  I 
unadvisedly  mentioned  where  I  had  hid  it.)  But  at  present,  I  say,  I  am 
the  more  forward  to  tell  (and  indeed  I  love  to  repeat  it)  that  I  am  a 
wealthy  old  Curmudgeon,  because  I  hope  the  Publick  will  pay  a  suita 
ble  Deference  to  my  Speculations  when  they  know  how  rich  the  Author 
is :  As  well  in  that  it  will  convince  them  that  I  do  not  write  for  the 
Lucre  of  Gain,  (as  some  well  express  it)  and  as  also  in  that  money 
always  commands  Respect. 

THERE  is  one  Question  more  that  waits  for  a  Solution ;  and  that  is 
concerning  my  Name.  But  here  now  is  the  Unhappiness !  I  have,  through 
the  Infirmity  of  Old  Age,  entirely  forgot  all  about  it ;  so  that  Posterity 
must  e'en  be  content  to  know  that  the  Author  of  the  Weekly  Journal 
had  a  name  once,  tho'  perhaps  neither  they  nor  I  will  ever  be  able  to 
invent  what  it  was.  However,  for  the  further  Satisfaction  of  the 
World,  I  shall  allow  People  in  their  Letters  to  me,  to  dignify  &  distin 
guish  me  by  what  Title  they  please ;  and  if  any  of  them  should  be  so 
happy  as  to  hit  my  true  name,  as  soon  as  I  once  hear  it  again,  I  shall 
remember  it,  and  I  shall  accordingly  make  use  of  it  for  the  future. 
This  Invitation  I  am  sensible  will  be  the  Occasion  of  a  variety  of 
pleasant  Appellations,  with  which  my  ingenious  Correspondents  will  be 


SAMUEL    KNEELAND.  95 

apt  to  shew  their  Parts  upon  me.  One  will  address  his  Epistle,  To  the 
Worthy  Mr.  THOMAS  FOOL.  Another  will  compliment  me  with  the 
Denomination  of  the  Honourable  Squire  NONSENSE.  I  shall  be  saluted 
by  a  third,  These  for  Honest  JACK  BLUNDERBUSS  :  While  a  fourth 
superscribes  his  Letter,  Humbly  Present,  To  the  Right  Worshipfull  Sir 
JAMES  NUMSCULL,  Knt.  But  these  things  I  shall  bear  with  a  great 
deal  of  Resignation  and  Patience,  and  shall  not  only  pardon  my  hu 
mourous  Correspondents  of  this  Kind,  but  so  long  as  men  are  thus 
Witty,  shall  not  fail  to  give  them  all  reasonable  Encouragement. 

P.  S.  Those  Gentlemen  or  Ladies  who  will  do  me  the  Honour  to 
write  to  me,  and  by  that  means  contribute  to  the  Embellishment  of  my 
Journal,  are  desired  to  direct  their  Letters,  till  I  can  think  of  my  true 
name,  (unless  they  are  disposed  to  be  more  than  ordinary  Witty  and 
Satyrical)  To  PROTEUS  ECHO,  Esq,  at  Mr.  Samuel  Kneelands  in 
Queen  Street,  Post  Paid.  E. 

In  his  next  paper  the  writer  proceeds,  agreeably  to 
the  example  of  his  great  prototypes  of  the  Tattler  and 
Spectator,  —  then  in  the  height  of  their  popularity,  —  to 
give  an  account  of  the  members  of  "  the  Society." 
The  members,  at  a  formal  meeting,  were  ordered  to  put 
on  their  best  countenances,  and  to  form  themselves  into  a 
semi-circle,  fronting  the  limner,  who  was  seated  at  a  con 
venient  distance,  and  thus  sketched  their  portraits  :  — 

The  Person  that  was  opposite  to  me,  and  seem'd  to  demand  the  ear 
liest  Notice,  was  the  Honourable  Charles  Gravely,  Esq ;  a  Gentleman  of 
most  remarkable  Figure  and  Majesty,  and  for  that  Reason  has  the  Hon 
our  of  the  Chair  and  is  every  way  qualified  to  Adorn  it.  He  has  been 
for  many  years  a  Merchant  of  considerable  Eminence  in  the  Province 
of  Massachusetts,  and  has  traded  for  many  Thousand  of  Pounds  in  Wit 
and  Eloquence,  and  all  sorts  of  the  richest  Styles  and  Figures,  that  are  of 
such  use  in  the  Commonwealth  of  Letters ;  And  could  never  be  persuad 
ed  to  venture  his  Merchandize  abroad,  upon  any  other  Bottom  than 
that  of  Good  Sense ;  for  which  Reason  he  has  in  all  his  Adventures 
succeeded  to  Admiration.  He  is  of  all  our  Society,  the  best  acquainted 
with  the  various  Humours  and  Passions  of  Mankind,  and  can  only  by 
the  Light  of  the  Face,  very  often  discover  the  secret  motions  and  Pro 
pensity  of  the  Heart ;  so  that  it  is  sometimes  very  dangerous  being  in 
his  Company.  I  was  once  resolved,  if  it  were  possible,  to  deceive  him, 
and  had  by  a  great  deal  of  Subtilty,  spread  an  artificial  Melancholy 


96  NEW-ENGLAND    WEEKLY    JOURNAL. 

over  my  whole  Countenance,  while  my  breast  was  labouring  with  some 
comical  Idea  (which  himself  was  the  occasion  of)  and  ready  to  burst 
into  Laughter.  The  Squire  gave  me  but  one  half  Glance  from  his  left 
Eye,  and  discovered  the  Dissimulation,  to  my  Surprize  and  Confusion. 
He  seldom  speaks  but  at  the  Decision  of  some  warm  and  tedious 
Debate,  at  which  Time  he  has  it  in  his  Power  to  Command  the  Affec 
tions  of  his  little  Auditory  at  his  Pleasure.  There  is  something  so 
peculiar  and  astonishing  in  his  Countenance,  that  a  Lady,  as  it  is 
reported,  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into  sudden  Labour  at  the  Sight 
of  him,  as  he  happen'd  accidentally  to  stalk  by  her  Window.  If  at 
any  Time  the  Society  have  started  some  merry  and  ridiculous  subject, 
and  happen  at  his  Appearance  to  be  all  upon  the  Grin ;  his  Presence 
will  in  an  Instant  strike  out  every  Wrinkle,  and  awe  them  into  the 
strictest  Gravity  and  Composure.  And  when  we  are  disposed  to  be 
dull  and  heavy,  as  is  too  common,  he  can  by  the  Magick  of  a  certain 
Figure,  throw  us  into  a  kind  of  Convulsion,  and  keep  us  upon  the 
Titter  and  Shake,  for  the  half  Hour  together.  In  short,  there  is  no 
resisting  his  Aspect  nor  Eloquence. 

At  the  right  hand  of  Squire  Gravely,  sits  Mr.  Timothy  Blunt,  who 
lives  some  distance  from  the  Town  of  Boston,  but  is,  notwithstanding, 
very  constant  in  his  attendance  at  our  Meetings.  He  is  a  Person  of 
great  plainness  of  Aspect,  Speech,  and  Behaviour,  and  has  such  an 
Aversion  to  Bombastick-writing,  that  he  will  not  allow  of  any  thing 
that  is  Gay  or  Fantastical,  in  his  House  or  Apparel.  His  Horse  for  its 
Poverty  and  the  Length  of  its  Tail,  is  admirably  calculated  for  the 
Surinam-Market,  upon  which  he  rides  to  Town  once  every  Week,  and 
very  often  brings  his  Wallet  ballanced  with  two  Bottles  of  Milk,  to  de 
fray  his  necessary  Expenses.  His  Perriwigg  has  been  out  of  the  Curl, 
ever  since  the  Revolution,  and  his  Dagger  and  Doublet  are  supposed  to 
be  the  rarest  Pieces  of  Antiquity  in  the  Country.  As  for  his  Intellectu 
als,  they  are  by  Reason  of  Age,  and  an  unlucky  stroke  which  he  re 
ceived  in  a  certain  place  in  his  Infancy,  very  much  out  of  Repair  at  this 
Time :  However,  he  has  Soul  enough  left  him  to  master  the  whole 
Mathematicks ;  and  if  it  had  not  been  for  this  Accident,  he  would 
doubtless  have  stood  the  fairest  of  any  of  his  Contempory's  to  have 
found  out  the  Philosopher's- Stone. 

Next  follows  my  dear  Friend  and  old  Companion,  the  famous  Mr. 
Christopher  Careless,  an  Inhabitant  of  Boston,  and  one  who  has  by  a  close 
and  vigorous  Application  to  Business,  sunk  a  very  plentiful  Patrimony, 
and  reduced  his  Fortune  to  a  Level  with  his  Ambition.  He  has  of  all 
Men  living  the  most  passionate  Thirst  after  agreeable  Society,  and 
Conversation :  And  yet  has  the  wonderful  Faculty  of  retiring  when  he 


SAMUEL     KNEELAND.  97 

is  in  the  best  of  Company :  For  let  the  Society  be  ever  so  closely  en 
gaged  in  Pursuits  of  the  greatest  Importance,  his  Soul  will  in  Spite  of 
all  the  Temptations  which  are  before  him,  sink  down  into  his  Body,  as 
a  Candle  into  the  Socket,  and  he  hears  no  more  of  the  Discourse  than  if 
he  was  absent :  And  yet  he  is  always  ready  with  an  answer  to  every 
Question  which  he  did  not  hear.  This  Person  is,  notwithstanding,  of 
singular  Advantage  to  our  Society  :  He  dives  into  himself  for  all  those 
Treasures  of  Knowledge  with  which  he  is  so  wonderfully  furnished, 
and  he  can,  when  he  is  much  provoked,  fetch  out  of  his  own  Mine,  such 
excellent  Maxims  and  Observations,  as  are  not  to  be  found  in  any 
other  Soil.  He  seems  to  be  the  favourite  and  darling  of  Nature,  and 
receives  at  the  first  Hand,  all  those  Intellectual  Blessings  which  others 
are  forced  to  endeavour  after  by  a  long  and  painful  Disquisition.  To 
conclude,  He  is  a  man  of  great  Goodness  of  Temper  when  he  is  well 
pleased,  and  let  him  be  kept  from  strong  Liquor,  and  there  is  not  a 
more  sober  temperate  Person  in  the  whole  Neighborhood. 

One  of  this  Association  happens  to  be  Mr.  Will.  Bitterly,  a  Man  that 
trades  with  the  Stars,  and  has  been  all  his  Life  a  Fortune-Teller.  He 
is  descended  in  a  direct  line  (tho'  I  have  forgot  the  number  of  Genera 
tions)  from  old  Diogenes  the  Father  of  the  Cynicks,  and  is  pretty  much 
like  him  in  Temper  &  Complection.  This  Person  has  taken  up  a  Res 
olution  against  Matrimony,  by  reason  of  several  threatening  Lines  and 
Crosses  in  the  Palms  of  his  Hands,  which  he  supposes  portend  domes- 
tick  Jangles  and  Disasters.  I  have  been  credibly  informed,  that  he  has 
foretold  many  extraordinary  Events  as  soon  as  they  have  come  to  pass, 
and  once  I  remember,  his  warning  a  Company  of  very  hopeful  Strip 
lings,  against  the  Danger  of  being  fudled,  when  there  appeared  to  be 
no  other  Symptoms  of  the  Catastrophe,  than  a  large  Bowl,  very  briskly 
sailing  round  the  Table ;  What  it  contained,  I  do  not  pretend  to  de 
termine,  but  that  very  Night  according  to  the  Prediction,  they  were  all 
unhappily  Cast-away,  and  some  of  them  very  much  Damaged.  There 
are  now  entered  down  in  the  Minutes  of  our  Society  several  of  his 
Prognostications  of  which  we  expect  a  punctual  and  speedy  Accom 
plishment  :  And  he  has  very  lately  ventured  to  Prophesy  something 
that  relates  to  this  Paper,  viz.  That  some  of  the  finest,  most  elegant 
and  sublime  Pieces  that  may  shine  out  in  the  leaves  of  these  Lucubra 
tions,  will  certainly  meet  with  very  cold  and  indifferent  Reception,  and 
that  all  the  low  and  grovelling  Performances  (if  there  should  be  any) 
will  consequently  meet  with  universal  Applause.  I  shall  therefore  cal 
culate  some  of  my  Speculations  to  the  taste  of  the  Populace,  and 
would  not  by  any  means  have  the  Publick  suppose  that  it  is  for  want  of 
Ability,  that  I  am  now  and  then  very  dull,  tho'  that  possibly  may  be 
the  very  Reason.  9 


98  NEW-ENGLAND    WEEKLY    JOURNAL. 

And  now  comes  the  wonderful  Mr.  Honeysuckle,  the  Blossom  of  our 
Society,  and  the  beautiful  Ornament  of  Litterature  ;  a  Person  of  most 
extravagant  Imagination,  and  one  who  lives  perpetually  upon  Tropes 
and  Similes.  In  his  common  Conversation,  he  talks  in  Metaphor  and 
Hyperbole,  and  his  very  Gesture  is  Allegorical.  He  has  a  lofty  and 
poetical  Countenance,  which  perfectly  Ehimes  with  his  Genius :  And 
his  Fancy  is  like  a  wide  and  magnificent  Boom,  that  is  hung  with  a 
confused  variety  of  Landskips,  of  his  own  making,  and  his  Judgment 
can  hardly  give  its  Approbation  to  any  thing,  that  does  not  border  upon 
the  Sublime.  He  has  a  tall  and  towering  Spirit,  that  scorns  to  be 
chain'd  to  the  Laws  of  Mortality ;  and  will  very  often  start  away  in  a 
visionary  Excursion  to  the  distant  Parts  of  the  Universe.  He  has  con 
tracted  an  intimate  Acquaintance  with  all  the  Planetary  Worlds,  and 
can  give  a  very  romantick  Account  of  the  different  Species  of  its  num 
berless  Inhabitants,  Customs  and  Constitutions.  By  the  Assistance  of 
his  natural  &  acquired  Endowments,  he  is  such  a  Master  at  Versifica 
tion  that  one  of  his  acquaintance  has  offered  a  considerable  Wager 

upon  his  Faculty,  against  the  great  LAW,  and  even  Dr.  H R 

himself,  and  tho'  I  dare  not  rise  to  such  a  Height  in  my  Opinion  of  his 
Capacity,  yet  I  cannot  but  think  he  deserves  the  next  Place  to  these 
wonderful  Authors.  He  has  attained  to  a  considerable  Perfection  in 
the  Art  of  Painting,  and  has  given  some  incontestable  Proofs  of  his 
Improvement ;  Having  obliged  our  Club-Eoom,  with  the  Draught  of  a 
Beau,  a  clown  and  a  Coquet ;  and  in  Pursuance  of  a  late  Vote  of  our 
Society,  is  now  taking  the  Phisiognomy  of  what  we  call  a  Critick. 

I  might  add  the  Character  of  Two  Divines  who  sometimes  do  us  the 
Honour  to  sit  with  us  half  an  Hour,  and  improve  us  with  their  Excel 
lent  Conversation ;  But  these  Gentlemen  are  above  the  reach  of  my 
Pen  to  do  them  Justice.  Their  Lives  are  regular  and  Exemplary; 
their  Learning  Solid  and  Profound,  and  in  the  Pulpit,  they  command 
the  Attention  of  their  Audience  with  the  Gracefulness  of  their  Air,  the 
Musick  of  their  Voice,  and  the  noble  Majesty  of  their  Eloquence. 
These  Gentlemen  will  have  no  inconsiderable  Hand  in  these  Weekly 
Entertainments.  M. 

The  third  number  of  these  Essays  is  a  "  Criticism 
upon  Nonsense,"  which  bestows  some  wholesome  ridicule 
upon  the  false  taste,  that  was  thought  to  prevail  among 
the  writers  of  that  period.  One  of  those  writers,  "  Mr. 
George  Brimstone  by  Name,"  is  thus  described  :  — 

Mr.  Brimstone,  as  to  his  exterior  Figure,  is  one  of  the  portliest  Mor 
tals  that  have  flourished  in  our  World,  since  Goliah  overtop'd  the 


SAMUEL    KNEELAND.  99 

Philistian  Army.  He  is,  moderately  speaking,  Nine  Foot  high,  and 
Four  in  Diameter.  His  Voice  is  not  unlike  the  Roar  and  Rapidity  of 
a  Torrent  foaming  down  a  Mountain,  and  reverberated  among  the 
neighboring  Rocks.  The  hurry  of  Vociferation  in  which  he  drives 
along  in  the  Heat  of  an  Argument,  imitates  the  Thunder  of  a  Cart 
load  of  Stones  poured  out  upon  a  pavement.  He  was  educated  in  a 
Ship  of  war,  and  one  would  imagine  he  learnt  the  Notes  of  his  Gamut, 
from  the  various  Whistlings  of  a  Tempest  thro'  the  Rigging  of  his 
Vessel.  I  was  once  so  unadvised  as  to  offer  my  Dissent  from  one  of 
his  Opinions  ;  but  I  had  better  have  held  my  Tongue :  He  turned  upon 
me,  and  rung  me  such  a  peal  of  Eloquence,  that  had  I  not  made  off 
with  the  greatest  Precipitation,  would  have  gone  near  to  have  stun'd, 
and  made  me  Deaf  all  my  Days.  Nay,  I  have  cause  to  think  my  Hear 
ing  has  been  never  the  better  for  it  to  this  Moment. 

This  is  a  short  Description  of  his  external  Accomplishments ;  as  to 
the  Qualifications  of  his  Mind,  they  will  be  best  perceived,  by  a  Trans 
cript  I  shall  here  make,  from  an  Oration  he  composed  in  Praise  of 
Beacon-Hill.  I  must  inform  my  Readers,  that  it  was  conceived  as  he 
stood  upon  the  Summit  of  that  little  Mount,  one  Training  Day,  when, 
as  he  has  since  owned  to  me,  the  Drums  and  Musquets  assisted  his 
Inspiration,  and  augmented  and  deepened  the  Rumbling  of  his  Periods. 
It  begins  in  the  following  manner  — 

The  gloriously-transcendent,  and  highly-exalted  Precipice,  from 
which  the  sonorous  Accents  of  my  Lungs  resound  with  repeated  Echoes, 
is  so  pompous,  magnificent,  illustrious,  and  loftily-towering,  that,  as  I 
twirl  around  my  arm  with  the  artful  flourish  of  an  Orator,  I  seem  to 
feel  my  Knuckles  rebound  from  the  blue  Vault  of  Heaven,  which  just 
arches  over  my  Head,  I  stand  upon  an  amazing  Eminence  that  heaves 
itself  up,  on  both  sides  steep  and  stupendous !  high  and  horrendous ! 
The  spiry  Teneriffe,  the  unshaken  Atlas,  or  Olympus  divine  and  celes 
tial,  when  compared  to  this  prodigious  mountain,  sink  to  Sands,  and 
dwindle  to  Atoms.  It  is  deep-rooted  in  its  ever-during  Foundations, 
firm  as  the  Earth,  lasting  as  the  Sun,  immovable  as  the  Pillars  of  Na 
ture  !  I  behold  from  this  awful  and  astonishing  Situation,  the  concave 
Expanse  of  uncreated  Space,  stretch  itself  above,  and  the  Land  and 
Ocean  below,  spreading  an  Infinitude  of  Extension  all  about  me.  But 
what  daring  Tropes  and  flaming  Metaphors  shall  I  select,  O  aspiring 
Beacon !  to  celebrate  Thee  with  a  suitable  Grandeur,  or  lift  Thee  to 
a  becoming  Dignity  ?  How  does  it  shoot  up  its  inconceivable  Pinnacle 
into  the  superior  Regions,  and  blend  itself  with  the  cerulian  circumam 
bient  Ether !  It  mocks  the  fiercest  Efforts  of  our  most  piercing  Sight 
to  reach  to  its  impenetrable  Sublimities.  It  looks  down  upon  the  di- 


100  NEW-ENGLAND    WEEKLY    JOURNAL. 

minish'd  Spheres  ;  the  fixt  Stars  twincle  at  an  immeasurable  Distance 
beneath  it,  while  the  Planets  roll  away  unperceived,  in  a  vast,  a  fathom 
less  Profound !  *  *  *  * 

The  writer  proceeds  to  give  an  account  of  Mr.  Brim 
stone's  Poem  on  Love,  addressed  to  his  Mistress,  in 
which,  in  fifty-six  lines,  there  were  three  Celestials, 
eight  Immortals,  eleven  Unboundeds,  six  Everlastings, 
four  Eternities,  and  thirteen  Infinities  ;  besides  Bellow- 
ings,  Ravings,  Yellings,  Horrors,  Terribles,  Rackets, 
Hubbubs,  and  Clutterings,  without  number.  But  the 
gentleman's  Poetical  Description  of  a  Game  at  Push 
Pin,  was  considered  his  master-piece.  This  poem  be 
gan  thus : — 

Rage,  fire  and  fury  in  my  bosom  roll, 
And  all  the  gods  rush  headlong  on  my  soul. 

The  pins  are  likened  to  two  comets,  enlightening  the 
boundless  deserts  of  the  skies  with  a  bloody  glare  ;  and 
their  first  encounter  was  as  if  the  two  continents  came 
in  contact  and  produced  a  direful  concussion  in  the 
midst  of  the  briny  Atlantic.  The  poem  concluded  with 
the  following  Lines  :  — 

The  Bars  of  Brass,  harsh-crashing,  loud  resound, 
And  jarring  Discords  rend  th'  astonish'd  ground. 
So  when  aloft  dire  Hurricanes  arise, 
And  with  horrendouns  shattcrings  burst  the  skies, 
Dread  ghastly  Terrors  drive  along  in  crowds, 
And  hideous  Thunder  howls  amongst  the  Clouds  ; 
Eternal  Whirlwinds  on  the  Ocean  roar, 
Infinite  Earthquakes  rock  the  bounding  shore. 

Most  of  the  human  passions,  virtues  and  vices,  are 
subjects  of  discussion  in  the  following  numbers,  treated 
with  becoming  earnestness  ;  the  more  harmless  follies  of 
the  day  are  touched  with  the  pencil  of  levity.  It  is  said 
that  these  essays  were  written  by  three  different  persons, 


SAMUEL    KNEEL AND.  101 

but  it  is  not  possible  now  to  identify  the  several  writers. 
Judge  Danforth,  the  Rev.  Mather  Byles,  and  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Prince,  were  undoubtedly  contributors  to  the 
Journal.  Tradition  affirms  that  most  of  the  poetical 
contributions  were  from  the.  pen  of  Dr.  Byles.  The 
thirty -first  number  was  written  sboiv  after  tie  great 
Earthquake.  Fear  is  th,>e  subject  »?f  discussion,  and  the 
writer  attempts  to  show  that  "Fear  always  rises  Li  pro 
portion  to  the  worth  and  excellence  of  what  it  is  proba 
ble  we  shall  part  with ; "  and  as  nothing  is  more  dear 
than  life,  it  is  thence  concluded  that  the  terror  inspired 
by  the  earthquake  was  a  natural  emotion :  — 

When  the  Earth  rumbles  under  us,  and  begins  to  wave  and  quiver, 
where  shall  we  run  for  Refuge  and  Safety  1  To  our  Habitations  ? 
They  feel  the  same  trembling  and  convulsion  with  the  Earth.  Shall 
we  run  out  into  our  Streets  ?  The  Earth  may  gape  under,  or  our 
Houses  tumble  over  us.  If  we  ascend  the  tops  of  Hills,  the  Earth 
quake  is  there,  and  the  Mountains  skip  and  leap  like  Lambs ;  either  that 
part  under  our  Feet  may  open  and  so  ingulph  us,  or  the  whole  of  them 
may  sink  down  till  their  Tops  are  lower  than  the  Valleys  which  before 
lay  at  their  feet.  If  we  imagine  to  fly  to  the  Waters,  Elames  may 
belch  out  of  the  Sea  and  make  a  speedy  consumption  of  us,  or  our 
Foundation  may  fail  us  before  we  can  get  thither.  So  that,  upon  all 
accounts,  an  Earthquake  leaves  us  the  least  Security  of  our  Lives  of 
any  one  temporal  Judgment.  If  an  Earthquake  be  caus'd  by  impris- 
on'd  Wind,  which  wanting  Vent,  rushes  with  a  bellowing  Roar  under 
the  Earth,  and  heaves  up  the  Ground  into  Trembles,  it  must  give  us  an 
amazing  Horror  to  think  this  Subterranean  Vapour  must  break  out 
somewhere  or  other,  and  that  we  don't  know  but  it  may  rush  out  under 
our  Feet,  and  bury  us  all  in  one  prodigious  Chasm.  If  it  be  caused  by 
Fires,  which  burn  under  us,  and  run  in  Rivers  of  Flame,  which  threaten 
to  blaze  out  in  the  most  dreadful  Eruptions  ;  it  must  fearfully  surprize 
to  think  how  the  outward  Convex  Earth  which  is  our  present  Founda 
tion,  is  only  an  Arch,  which  as  it  were  hangs  over  a  fiery  Sea ;  and 
that  if  it  should  once  cave  in,  we  should  fall  into  a  Boiling  and  Sul- 
phurious  Lake. 

It  is  the  Sentiment  of  the  best  modern  Philosophers,  that  the  Earth 
is  continually  sapt  and  undermined  by  Fire ;  and  its  Vitals  burnt  with 


102  NEW-ENGLAND    WEEKLY    JOURNAL. 

an  hectick  Fever,  so  that  it  is  gradually  preparing  for  the  final  Confla 
gration,  when  its  extreme  Surface  will  at  last  share  the  Fate  that  is  now 
suffered  by  its  Entrails.  Doubtless  those  burning  Mountains  which 
throw  out  of  their  Caverns  perpetual  Flames  and  Cinder,  and  some 
times  vomit  Rivers  of  melted  materials,  have  numerous  Sources  from 
all  parts  of  this  Globe,  which  still  supply  them  with  fresh  and  eternal 
Recruits.  :So  'that  an  Earthquake '  must  needs  give  us  some  natural 
Expectation  and  Image  of  those  last  tremendous  Convulsions  when 
this  large  arid -spacious  Ar^h  whi^h  is  s>.retch'd  over  the  Hollow  that  is 
under'. ;"t,  shall'  cb&tnd  dovm  with  A  mighty  noise,  and  the  Waves  of 
Fire  breaking  out,  shall  boil  over  it. 

This  essay  closes  with  the  following  Hymn  :  — 
The  GOD  of  Tempest. 

I. 
Thy  dreadful  Pow'r,  Almighty  GOD 

Thy  Works  to  speak  conspire ; 
This  Earth  declares  thy  Fame  abroad, 
With  Water,  Air,  and  Fire. 

II. 
At  thy  Command  in  glaring  Streaks, 

The  ruddy  Lightning  flies  ; 
Loud  Thunder  the  Creation  shakes, 
And  rapid  Tempests  rise. 

III. 
The  gathering  Glooms  obscure  the  Day, 

And  shed  a  solemn  Night ; 
And  now  the  heav'nly  Engines  play, 
And  shoot  devouring  Light. 

IV. 
Th'  attending  Sea  thy  will  performs, 

Waves  tumble  to  the  shore, 
Arid  toss  and  foam  amid  the  Storms, 
And  dash,  and  rage,  and  roar. 

V. 
The  Earth  and  all  her  trembling  Hills 

Thy  marching  Footsteps  own : 
A  shud'ring  Fear  her  Entrails  fills, 
Her  hideous  Caverns  groan. 

VI. 

My  GOD,  when  Terrors  thickest  throng,  — 
Thro'  all  the  mighty  space, 


SAMUEL     KNEELAND.  103 

And  rattling  Thunders  roar  along, 

And  bloody  Lightnings  blaze : 

VII. 
When  wild  Confusion  wrecks  the  Air, 

And  Tempests  rend  the  Skies, 
Whilst  blended  Ruin,  Clouds,  and  Fire 

In  harsh  disorder  rise ; 

VIII. 
Amid  the  Hurricane  I  '11  stand, 

And  strike  a  tuneful  Song ; 
My  Harp  all-trembling  in  my  hand, 

And  all  inspir'd  my  Tongue. 

IX. 

I  '11  shout  aloud,  Ye  Thunders  !  roll, 

And  shake  the  sullen  Sky ; 
Your  sounding  Voice  from  Pole  to  Pole 

In  angry  murmurs  try. 

X. 
Thou  Sun !  retire,  refuse  thy  Light, 

And  let  thy  Beams  decay : 
Ye  Lightnings  !  flash  along  the  Night, 

And  dart  a  dreadful  Day. 

XI. 

Let  the  Earth  totter  on  her  Base, 

Clouds  Heav'n's  wide  Arch  deform ; 
Blow,  all  ye  Winds,  from  ev'ry  place, 

And  breathe  the  final  Storm. 

XII. 
O  JESUS,  haste  the  Glorious  Day, 

When  thou  shalt  come  in  Flame, 
And  burn  the  Earth,  and  waste  the  Sea, 

And  break  all  Nature's  Frame. 

XIII. 
Come  quickly,  Blessed  Hope  !  appear, 

Bid  thy  swift  Chariot  fly ; 
Let  Angels  tell  thy  coming  near, 

And  snatch  me  to  the  sky. 

XIV. 
Around  thy  wheels,  in  the  glad  Throng, 

I  'd  bear  a  joyful  part; 


104  NEW-ENGLAND    WEEKLY    JOURNAL. 

All  Hallelujah  on  my  Tongue, 
All  Rapture  in  my  Heart. 

Six  stanzas  of  this  poem  are  introduced  by  Dr.  Bel- 
knap  into  his  collection  of  "  Sacred  Poetry,"  and  are 
there  attributed  to  Dr.  Byles  as  the  author. 

There  is  one  Poem  inserted  among  these  papers  which 
is  announced  as  the  production  of  "  Mr.  Byles."  It  is 
"on  the  Death  of  King  George  I.,  and  Accession  of 
King  George  II."  It  is  a  pretty  good  specimen  of  the 
style  of  "  Mr.  Brimstone,"  which  had  been  ridiculed  in 
a  previous  paper.  After  a  column  of  most  extravagant 
personal  compliment,  and  inflated  description  of  the  con 
dition  of  England  under  the  reign  of  the  first  George, 
the  Poet  exclaims  — 

But  Oh !  at  once  the  heav'nly  scenes  decay, 
And  all  the  gaudy  visions  fade  away  ; 
He  dies  —  my  muse,  the  dismal  sound  forbear ; 
In  ev'ry  eye  debates  the  falling  tear ; 
A  thousand  passions  o'er  my  bosom  roll, 
Swell  in  my  heart,  and  shock  my  inmost  soul : 
He  dies  —  Let  nature  own  the  direful  blow, 
Sigh,  all  ye  winds  ;  with  tears  ye  rivers  flow ; 
Let  the  wide  ocean,  loud  in  anguish,  roar ; 
And  tides  of  grief  pour  plenteous  on  the  shore  ; 
No  more  the  spring  shall  bloom  or  morning  rise, 
But  night  eternal  wrap  the  sable  skies. 

Yet  the  spring  did  bloom,  and  the  morning  did  rise ; 
for  the  Poet,  after  a  transition  of  six  lines  declares, 
"The  first  revives  within  the  second  George,"  and 
adds  — 

Ev'n  our  far  shores  confess  the  high  delight, 
Where  the  faint  sun  rolls  down  the  golden  light ; 
The  daring  billows  leap  along  the  main, 
Proud  of  the  extent  of  George's  happy  reign  ; 
Applauding  thunders  shake  the  air  around, 
Waves  shout  to  waves,  and  rocks  to  rocks  resound ; 


SAMUEL    KNEELAND.  105 

Each  human  breast  glows  with  resistless  fire, 
And  ev'ry  Angel  strikes  his  sounding  lyre. 

0  live,  auspicious  Prince,  live  radiant  Queen, 
Long  let  your  influence  gild  the  glorious  scene, 
And  your  fair  Offspring,  form'd  for  high  command, 
Flourish,  ye  blooming  Honours  of  the  land : 
But  when  from  the  dim  courts  below  you  fly, 
To  the  bright  regions  of  the  upper  sky, 
Where  trees  of  life  by  living  riv'lets  teem 
Wave  their  tall  heads,  and  paint  the  running  stream 
May  round  your  heads  crowns  flash,  celestial,  bright,  * 

In  another  essay,  (No.  xxxiii.)  there  is  a  paraphrase 
of  the  Hundred  and  Fourth  Psalm,  in  heroic  verse, 
which  is  rather  dull  and  prosaic,  though  the  versification 
is  smoothe  and  not  ungraceful.  The  following  are  the 
concluding  lines :  — 

Joyful,  my  GOD,  my  pious  Song  I  '11  raise, 

Whilst  vital  Spirits  down  their  circling  maze. 

To  thee  I  '11  sing,  till  to  the  Kealms  of  Light 

My  Soul  with  winged  speed  directs  her  flight. 

There  shall  my  Raptures  no  deception  know, 

But  to  duration's  endless  Ages  glow. 

Mean  time  my  GOD  shall  every  Thought  employ, 

My  sorrow  sweeten,  and  inspire  my  joy. 

Whilst  on  the  Wicked  His  Almighty  ire 

Shall  rain  a  deluge  of  consuming  fire  ; 

My  Soul  thy  Name  with  inmost  ardour  bless, 

You  num'rous  Worlds  your  grateful  Songs  express ! 

Several  of  these  essays  were  republished  in  1807  and 
1808,  in  the  EMERALD,  a  literary  paper,  published  in 
Boston.  In  placing  the  first  number  before  the  readers 
of  the  Emerald,  the  editor  said,  —  "  If  the  appetites  of 
general  readers  be  not  entirely  vitiated  by  the  literary 
whip-syllabub,  which  is  served  up  in  the  trash  publica 
tions  of  the  present  time,  they  must  relish  the  solid  fare, 
on  which  our  ancestors  regaled."  In  a  subsequent  pa- 

t*  Three  lines  are  here  nearly  obliterated  from  the  Journal. 


106  NEW-ENGLAND    WEEKLY    JOURNAL. 

per,  the  editor  remarked  of  these  essays  — "  They 
appear  to  have  been  extremely  popular,  when  first  pub 
lished,  and  we  should  be  proud,  at  this  day,  of  being,  in 
the  least  degree,  instrumental  in  arresting  their  flight  to 
the  gulph  of  oblivion.  They  carry  internal  evidence  to 
prove  themselves  the  production  of  some  well  bred 
scholar,  whether  of  Oxford  or  Cambridge  is  of  little 
moment.  Some  of  them  are  not  inferior  to  the  numbers 
of  the  Spectator ;  and  their  writer  seems  to  follow,  and 
not  sub  longo  intervatto,  the  footsteps  of  ADDJSON.  * 
*  *  *  The  extensive  familiarity  with  classical  litera 
ture,  which  these  productions  discover,  is  perhaps  such 
as  to  render  it  highly  probable,  that  they  originated  with 
some  English  gentleman  of  education,  then  resident  here. 
The  diction  is  pure,  the  humor  chaste,  and  the  morality 
sound." 

In  the  seventy-first  number  of  the  Journal  there  is  a 
"  Congratulatory  Poem,"  addressed  to  Governor  Burnet, 
who  had  then  just  taken  possession  of  the  government  of 
Massachusetts,  by  appointment  from  the  king  of  Great- 
Britain.  It  is  highly  charged  with  adulation,  and  con 
tains  more  flattery  than  poetry.  For  example,  — 

But  now,  O  Massachusetts,  now  rejoice  ! 
And  Thou,  blest  Boston,  lift  thy  cheerful  Voice  ! 
For  he,  who  long  before  had  fill'd  our  Hearts, 
Now  to  our  longing  Eyes  Himself  imparts  : 
He,  he  is  come  to  be  our  Country's  Prop ; 
Greater  than  Fame,  and  better  far  than  Hope. 
=fc    *    *    #    * 

While  tender  Infants  smile  to  see  his  Face, 
The  Aged  gravely  celebrate  his  Praise. 
Transports  and  Joys  shine  in  each  Face  confest, 
While  Expectation  fills  each  heaving  Breast. 
But  while  Priest,  Senate,  and  the  Throng  express 
United  Joy,  great  Sir,  can  we  do  less  1 


SAMUEL    KNEEL AND.  107 

From  Castle  William  then  a  welcome  take  : 
'Tis  giv'n  !  —  what  Noise  our  thundring  Cannons  make ! 
'Tis  nought!  — For  should  we  forth  our  Raptures  sing, 
Wide  round  the  World  the  vast  Report  would  ring. 

The  readers  of  the  History  of  Massachusetts,  will  not 
need  to  be  informed  that  Governor  Burnet  did  not  quite 
accomplish  all  the  anticipations  of  the  Poet.  He  began 
his  administration  by  quarreling  with  the  Representatives 
of  the  People,  and  closed  it  at  his  death,  with  no  testi 
monials  of  their  love  or  respect.  The  poem  was  un 
doubtedly  written  by  Dr.  Byles. 

In  January,  1729,  —  the  third  year  of  its  existence, 
—  the  Journal  was  supplied  with  another  series  of  ori 
ginal  essays,  which  extended  to  eighteen  numbers.  Mr. 
Thomas  says,  they  "  were  supposed  by  some  to  have 
been  principally  composed  by  Governor  Burnet ;  as  they 
began  the  January  after  his  arrival  at  Boston,  and  ceased 
a  few  weeks  before  his  death."  These  essays  are  writ 
ten  in  a  good  style,  and  may  properly  claim  the  charac 
ter  of  "  moral  and  entertaining,"  but  they  want  the 
attractive  sprightliness  that  gave  popularity  to  those  of 
Proteus  Echo. 

About  the  close  of  the  year  1741,  this  paper  was 
incorporated  with  the  Boston  Gazette,  and  published  by 
Kneeland  &  Green,  under  the  title  of  the  "  Boston 
Gazette  and  Weekly  Journal."  The  publication  was 
discontinued  in  1752,  —  twenty-five  years  after  the  first 
publication  of  the  Journal.* 

In  the  Journal  of  January  8,  1728,  is  the  following 
account  of  the  celebration  of  the  king's  birth-day  at 
Bath,  England  :  — 

At  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  Bells  struck  out,  a  Bonfire  was 
*  See  p.  46. 


108  NEW-ENGLAND    WEEKLY    JOURNAL. 

lighted,  and  a  whole  Ox  set  a  roasting,  with  a  Quantity  of  Liquor,  and 
Huzza's  to  His  Majesty's  Health :  At  6  the  Drums  beat  the  Young 
Gentlemen  Voluntiers  to  arms ;  by  8  one  Hundred  and  Sixty  assem 
bled  themselves  together  at  the  Colonel's  House  ;  by  10  they  were  ready 
to  march,  but  firgt  every  man  drank  a  Glass  of  Brandy  to  his  Majesty's 
Health ;  the  officers  were  extreamly  rich  in  their  Apparel,  Velvet, 
Embroidery,  Gold  and  Silver  Lace  ;  the  men  with  fine  Caps,  Cockades, 
Holland  Shirts,  Silver  and  Gold  Kibbons,  Shoulder-Knots,  fine  Scarlet 
Cloth  Breeches  richly  laid,  white  Stockings,  red  Tops  to  their  Shoes  ; 
the  Slings  to  their  Pieces  had  this  Motto,  God  save  King  George  the 
Second:  By  12  they  marched  through  the  best  part  of  the  Town,  with 
two  Sword-Bearers,  a  Sett  of  Morris-Dancers,  and  Martial  Musick  be 
fore  them  ;  then  came  to  the  Market-Place,  where  they  drew  up  in  order 
for  Fire ;  Wine  was  brought,  and  every  Officer  charg'd  his  Glass  ;  the 
King,  Queen  and  Royal  Family  went  round  distinct,  with  a  Volley  at 
each  health;  the  Glasses  were  thrown  over  their  Heads,  and  in  other 
Parts  of  the  Town  they  did  the  same ;  then  Captain  Goulding  repeated 
this  Verse  Ex  tempore  : 

In  spite  of  Legions  of  Infernal  Devils  below, 

To  y«  Powers  above,  Supream  Divine, 
Let  George  in  the  Center  our  Standard  be, 

And  his  Queen  the  Great  Caroline. 

One  Colonel  Edward  Collins  that  keeps  the  White  Hart  Inn,  &  Capt. 
Thomas  Goulding  Jeweller  in  the  Walks,  Capt  James  Warriner  Book 
seller  in  the  Walks,  Lieut.  Collins  Wallen,  Draper  in  the  Church- Yard 
Lieut.  Taylor  Sword-Cutler  in  the  Church- Yard,  and  three  more  young 
Gentlemen  of  the  Town-Officers,  which  makes  8  in  number,  that  gave 
the  Ox  and  all  the  Charges  thereto :  They  drew  to  the  Beef  when 
roasting,  with  Handfuls  of  Silver  each  Officer,  and  obliged  the  Cook  to 
stuff"  it  into  the  Shoulders  and  Neck ;  and  Capt.  Goulding,  Jeweller, 
stuffed  above  an  Hundred  true  Stones  into  the  Buttocks  of  the  Ox, 
several  Diamonds,  Rubies,  Saphires,  Emeralds,  Garnets,  Ametthysts 
and  Topasses.  At  two  the  Ox  was  ready  brought  to  the  Table,  put 
into  a  Dish  12  Foot  long  and  6  wide,  made  on  purpose :  They  din'd 
in  the  public  Market- House  ;  but  the  Stuffing  made  the  Mob  so  furious 
that  they  flung  themselves  over  the  Heads  of  the  Officers,  into  the  Dish 
and  stood  over  their  Shoes  in  Gravy,  and  one  was  stuff 'd  into  the  Belly 
of  the  Ox,  and  almost  stifled  with  Heat  and  Fat ;  the  Grease  flew  about 
to  that  Degree,  which  made  the  Officers  quit  the  Table,  or  all  their 
Cloaths  must  have  been  spoil'd ;  they  stopt  and  look'd  on  their  Pro 
ceedings  till  Three,  then  they  all  march'd  to  the  Colonel's,  and  staid  till 
Four ;  they  went  out  again  on  their  Procession ;  at  Five  the  Candles 


MATHER    BYLES.  109 

began  to  light ;  at  6  the  Town  was  illuminated ;  they  beat  into  the 
Colonel's  Quarters  near  Seven,  with  Huzzas,  King  George  for  Ever  I 
where  there  was  great  Quantities  of  Wine  and  Beer  drank  to  his 
Majesty's  Health,  and  all  his  loving  Subjects  in  his  extended  Domin 
ions  ;  at  Eleven  the  Drums  beat  Go  to  Bed  Tom,  and  all  departed  in 
Peace  after  Pleasure. 

Of  the  Rev.  Mather  Byles,  one  of  the  most  prolific 
writers  for  the  Journal,  the  history  is  generally  known. 
He  was  born  in  Boston,  March  26,  1706.  His  father 
was  an  English  emigrant,  and  died  soon  after  the  birth  of 
the  son.  His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  In 
crease  Mather.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  in 
1725,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in  Hollis- 
street,  Boston,  December  20,  1733.  He  was  strongly 
attached  to  the  royal  government,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
Revolution,  on  which  account  he  was  separated  from  his 
pastoral  charge,  in  1776.  In  May,  1777,  he  was  form 
ally  denounced,  in  town-meeting,  as  a  Tory,  and  was 
obliged  to  enter  into  bonds  to  appear  at  a  public  trial. 
He  was  pronounced  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  confinement 
on  board  a  guard-ship,  and,  with  his  family,  to  be  sent  to 
England  ;  but  this  sentence,  —  at  least,  the  latter  part  of 
it,  —  was  not  executed.  He  died  in  1 783,  of  a  paralysis, 
which  had  afflicted  him  for  some  years.  He  made  great 
pretensions  to  the  character  of  a  wit,  and  almost  innu 
merable  puns  have  been  attributed  to  him.  His  literary 
talents  gained  him  some  reputation  in  England.  That 
he  understood  the  arts  of  flattery  is  evident  from  the  fol 
lowing  letter :  — 

To  MR.  ALEXANDER  POPE. 

New-England,  Boston,  Oct.  7,  1727. 
Sir, 

You  are  doubtless  wondering  at  the  novelty  of  an  epistle  from 
the  remote  shores  where  this  dates  its  origin  ;  as  well  as  from  so  obscure 
a  hand  as  that  which  subscribes  it.    But  what  corner  of  the  earth  so 
VOL.    I.  10 


]  10  NEW-ENGLAND    WEEKLY    JOURNAL. 

secret,  as  not  to  have  heard  the  fame  of  Mr.  Pope  ?  Or  who  so  retired 
as  not  to  be  acquainted  with  his  admirable  compositions,  or  so  stupid  as 
not  to  be  ravished  with  them  ? 

Fame,  after  a  man  is  dead,  has  been  by  some  ingenious  writers  com 
pared  to  an  applause  in  some  distant  region.  If  this  be  a  just  simili 
tude,  you  may  take  the  pleasure  of  an  admired  name  in  America,  and 
of  spreading  a  transport  over  the  face  of  a  New  World  :  By  which  you 
may,  in  some  measure,  imagine  the  renown,  in  which  your  name  will 
flourish  many  ages  to  come,  and  anticipate  a  thousand  years  of  futurity. 

To  let  you  see  a  little  of  the  reputation  which  you  bear  in  these  un 
known  climates,  and  the  improvements  we  are  making  under  your 
auspicious  influences,  in  the  polite  studies  of  the  Muses,  I  transmit  to 
you  the  enclosed  Poems  :  Assuring  myself,  though  not  of  the  appro 
bation  of  your  judgement,  yet  of  the  excuse  and  lenity  of  that  candor 
which  is  for  ever  inseparable  from  a  great  genius.  But  notwithstanding 
all  these  representations  of  your  goodness,  which  my  imagination  is 
able  to  form,  I  find  it  very  difficult  to  suppress  the  struggle  of  passions 
which  swells  my  breast,  while  I  am  writing  a  letter  to  so  great  a  man. 
I  am  at  once  urged  by  a  generous  ambition  to  be  known  to  you ;  and 
forbid  by  a  trembling  consciousness  of  my  own  unworthiness  and  ob 
scurity  Prompted  by  desire,  flushed  with  hope,  or  appalled  with  con 
cern,  I  add  to  the  incorrectness  which  I  would  now  most  of  all  wish  to 
escape.  In  short,  Sir,  when  I  approach  you  it  is  with  a  real  awe  and 
reverence,  like  that,  which  you  have  so  humorously  described  in  the 
Guardian  upon  dedications. 

How  often  have  I  been  soothed  and  charmed  with  the  ever  blooming 
landscapes  of  your  Windsor  Forest  ?  And  how  does  my  very  soul 
melt  away,  at  the  soft  complaint  of  the  languishing  Eloisa  ?  How  fre 
quently  has  the  Rape  of  the  Lock  commanded  the  various  passions  of 
my  mind :  Provoked  laughter ;  breathed  a  tranquillity ;  or  inspired  a 
transport !  And  how  often  have  I  been  raised,  and  borne  away  by  the 
resistless  fire  of  the  Iliad,  as  it  glows  in  your  immortal  translation  ! 

Permit  me,  Sir,  to  conclude  my  letter  with  asking  the  favor  of  a  few 
lines  from  the  hand  which  has  blest  the  world  with  such  divine  produc 
tions.  If  you  thus  honor  me,  assure  yourself  the  joys  you  will  produce 
in  me,  will  be  inferior  to  none  but  the  poetic  rapture  of  your  own 
breast.  Perhaps  you  will  be  disposed  to  write,  when  I  confess,  that  I 
have  a  more  superstitious  ardor  to  see  a  word  written  by  your  pen, 
than  ever  Tom  Folio  in  the  Tatler,  to  see  a  simile  of  Virgil  with  that 
advantage. 

I  am.  Sir,  your  great  admirer,  and 

most  obedient  humble  Servant,  MATHER  BYLES. 


THOMAS    PRINCE.  Ill 

To  this  letter,  Pope  wrote  an  answer,  composed  in 
terms  of  extravagant  compliment,  which  Byles  was  fond 
of  exhibiting  on  every  practicable  occasion.  Among 
other  ironical  expressions,  Pope  said,  it  had  been  long 
supposed  that  the  Muses  had  deserted  the  British  empire, 
but  the  reception  of  this  book  of  Poems  had  relieved 
him  of  his  sorrow,  for  it  was  evident  they  had  only  emi 
grated  to  the  colonies.* 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Prince  is  supposed  to  have  been  a 
contributor  to  the  Journal,  and  to  have  given  efficient 
aid  to  the  publisher  by  enlightened  and  friendly  counsel. 
This  gentleman  was  a  native  of  Middleborough,  in  the 
county  of  Plymouth.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
College.  Having  spent  several  years  in  traveling  in 
Europe,  he  arrived  in  Boston,  in  1717,  and  was,  the 
next  year,  ordained  pastor  of  the  Old  South  Church. 
He  published  a  great  number  of  sermons  and  tracts,  but 
is  now  chiefly  known  by  his  Chronological  History  of 
New-England,  —  a  work  of  great  value,  as  far  as  it  was 
completed,  which  was  brought  down  only  to  1633.  He 
was  an  ardent  friend  and  zealous  supporter  of  the  Rev. 
George  Whitefield.  He  died  October  22,  1758,  in  the 
seventy-second  year  of  his  age. 

*  This  anecdote  I  had  fiom  the  Rev,  John  Eliot,  I),  D, 


THE  WEEKLY  REHEARSAL. 


THIS  was  the  fifth  newspaper  established  in  Boston. 
The  first  number  of  it  was  published  on  Monday,  Sep 
tember  27,  1731 ,  "  by  J.  Draper,  for  the  author."  *  Its 
author  was  JEREMY  [or  Jeremiah]  GRIDLEY,  a  young  man 
of  fine  literary  acquirements.  "  For  the  first  six  weeks, 
mottoes  in  Latin,  from  the  classics,  were  inserted  after 
the  title,"  and  every  succeeding  paper  had  anew  motto. 
"  For  the  first  six  months,  with  very  few  exceptions,  a 
moral  or  entertaining  essay  was  weekly  published,  which 
usually  filled  more  than  half  the  paper."  f  These  were 
mostly  original,  and  were  supposed  to  be  the  productions 
of  Gridley  alone.  The  following  modest  introductory 
article  fills  the  entire  first  page  of  the  first  paper :  — 

There  is  nothing  of  greater  disservice  to  any  writer,  than  to  appear 
in  public  under  too  forward  and  sangiiine  an  expectation :  For  either 
he  must  elevate  himself  to  the  fondness  of  his  reader's  fancy,  or  both 
of  them  are  respectively  dissatisfied,  —  the  reader  by  a  disappointment, 
and  the  writer  by  a  cold  reception.  To  prevent  therefore  any  incon- 

*  In  most  of  the  newspapers  printed  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  the 
word ''author  "  was  used  to  designate  the  editor  or  publisher.  All  communica 
tions  are  addressed  "To  the  author  of  the  Courant,"  —  "  To  the  author  of  the 
Rehearsal,"  <fcc. 

t  Thomas's  History  of  Printing. 


JEREMY    GRIDLEY.  113 

venience  of  this  nature,  I  shall  here  enter  into  the  design  of  the  present 
undertaking,  and  delineate  the  idea  I  would  have  every  reader  conceive 
of  it. 

As  to  the  reasons  that  have  engaged  me  in  it,  several  I  find  have 
been  assigned,  all  which  I  leave  in  the  same  uncertainty  and  suspense, 
since  there  is  no  necessity  of  declaring  upon  motives,  where  the  pro 
duction  is  to  be  useful  or  entertaining.  And  to  be  so  as  far  as  possible 
is  the  professed  intention  of  this  paper;  an  intention  that  takes  in  a 
wide  extent  and  variety  of  subjects.  For  what  is  there  either  in  Art, 
or  Nature,  or  History,  not  to  be  accommodated  in  this  view?  The 
minutest  things,  when  set  in  a  due  light,  and  represented  in  apt  words, 
will  divert,  and  the  greatest  are  entertaining  of  themselves.  The  na 
ture  of  this  design  then  is  confined  to  no  particular  argument,  and  in 
fact  will  be  circumscribed  by  nothing  but  discretion,  duty,  and  good 
manners.  These  are  the  fences  and  boundaries  I  would  think  myself 
obliged  never  to  transgress  ;  for  however  uneasy  a  dissolute  and  licen 
tious  pen  might  be  under  these  limitations,  yet  without  them  there  is 
certainly  no  real  pleasure  in  any  action  of  life,  and  with  them  there  is 
room  for  the  widest  range  of  thought,  and  the  freest  excursions  of 
fancy.  Room  enough,  every  one  will  be  ready  to  admit,  but  where 
shall  we  find  the  powers  to  traverse  and  cultivate  it  ?  Where  the  man 
equal  to  it  ?  This  is  a  hard,  unnecessary  question.  I  need  not  go  very 
far  to  say  where  he  is  not,  neither  is  there  any  need  of  proceeding 
farther  to  show  where  he  is.  For  without  any  pretensions  to  genius,  or 
universal  capacity,  an  indifferent  hand  may  be  allowed,  once  in  seven 
days,  to  publish  a  Rehearsal,  and  perhaps  to  entertain.  A  Rehearsal, 
what  can  we  suppose  it,  but  in  the  general  course  to  be  derivative  ?  and 
what  an  infinity  of  sources  have  we  to  derive  from  ?  The  ancient  are 
yet  living,  and  many  of  these  later  ages  will  forever  live  with  them. 
They  are  too  pure  to  displease,  too  numerous  to  fail  us.  And  is  it  im 
possible  for  an  industrious  hand  to  give  them  a  different  course  ?  May 
he  not  be  useful  to  the  public,  by  directing  them  where  they  will  be 
valued,  and  where  otherwise  perhaps  they  would  not  have  been  en 
joyed  ?  This  is  all  the  vanity  that  can  be  imputed  to  the  publisher  of 
a  Rehearsal ;  for  as  the  paper  takes  its  name,  the  readers  should  form 
their  opinion  from  the  general  design.  I  am  well  aware  of  the  exceed 
ing  and  almost  insuperable  difficulty  of  being  an  original  in  this  know 
ing  and  polite  age ;  for  besides  the  fertile  comprehensive  genius  that 
Nature  must  bestow,  how  many  other  qualities  are  requisite  to  form  a 
good  and  just  writer  ?  Easiness  of  mind  and  a  competent  fortune  are 
indispensably  necessary ;  for  how  can  wit  and  humor  be  employed  by  a 
man  in  want  ?  How  can  the  arrangement  of  ideas  be  attended  to  by 
10* 


114  WEEKLY    REHEARSAL. 

him  whose  affairs  are  in  confusion  ?  Travel  and  the  most  refined  con 
versation  are  to  be  added  to  these  accomplishments :  And  beyond  these, 
it  were  easy  to  select  many  others,  that  enter  the  character  of  an  original 
author,  and  discountenance  those  who  want  them  from  any  pretences 
to  it.  I  would  therefore  decline  this  path,  and  presume  no  farther  than 
Mr.  Locke  has  suggested  every  man  may,  without  any  the  least  imputa 
tion  of  vanity.  "  Since  no  one  (says  that  great  author)  sees  all,  and 
we  generally  have  different  prospects  of  the  same  things,  according  to 
our  different  positions  to  it,  —  it  is  not  incongruous  to  think,  nor  be 
neath  any  man  to  try,  whether  another  may  not  have  notions  of  things, 
which  have  escaped  him,  and  which  his  reason  would  make  use  of,  if 
they  come  into  his  mind."  These  views  and  attributes  we  apprehend 
things  in,  are  infinitely  diversified  by  the  particular  circumstances  of 
persons.  And  there  is,  I  am  persuaded,  scarce  any  man  of  the  least 
observation  and  remark,  who  has  not  been  entertained  with  appropriate 
cast  of  thought,  and  turn  of  humor,  even  where  he  least  expected  it. 
Should  I  ever,  therefore,  even  venture  beyond  the  limits  of  a  Rehearsal, 
this  would  be  my  plea  and  vindication :  and  should  I  fail  in  the  at 
tempt,  what  a  great  pleasure  and  obligation  would  it  be,  for  some  of 
my  better  readers  to  imitate  the  example  of  the  Oxford  scholar,  who, 
although  he  had  acquired  an  excellent  hand  at  music,  yet  aftenvards, 
falling  into  melancholy,  grew  averse  to  it,  and  would  not  be  prevailed 
upon  by  his  friends  to  touch  it.  They  had  but  one  way  to  excite  him, 
and  that,  for  some  unskillful  hand  to  take  his  violin  and  scrape  upon 
it.  He  would  then  immediately  snatch  it  from  him,  and  in  a  kind  of 
resentment,  give  it  the  utmost  elegance  of  sound  and  harmony. 

What  has  been  hitherto  said,  considers  this  paper  only  in  the  essay 
kind  and  a  speculative  view ;  which  is  but  one  half  the  design.  For  it 
is  intended  to  be  a  narrative  of  whatever  shall  occur  in  Commerce  in 
the  Civil  or  Learned  World,  as  far  as  it  deserves  our  attention,  and 
comes  within  notice.  It  will  be  the  endeavor  of  the  publisher  to  pro 
cure  the  best  intelligence,  and  to  digest  it  in  the  most  suitable  method. 
He  would  aim  to  give  this  sheet  all  the  variety  and  aspects  it  is  capa 
ble  of  receiving ;  for,  upon  looking  over  a  list  of  the  subscribers,  he 
finds  names  of  every  quality,  and  presumes  there  are  tastes  of  every 
degree  to  be  pleased.  He  owns  himself  under  indelible  obligations  to 
the  gentlemen  that  have  advanced  and  favored  the  design,  and  would 
not  question  their  continuance,  till  it  deserves  their  disesteem,  and  be 
comes  an  opiate,  by  having  too  great  an  infusion  of  the  poppy. 

Some  of  the  essays  in  the  succeeding  numbers  of  the 
Rehearsal  are  written  with  ease  and  sprightliness,  and 


JEREMY    GRIDLEY.  115 

are  good  specimens  of  the  kind  of  writing  that  was 
made  popular  by  the  influence  of  the  Tattler,  Guardian, 
and  Spectator.  It  is  not,  however,  always  easy  to  dis 
tinguish  the  original  pieces  from  those  that  are  selected. 
Many  of  them  bear  so  near  a  resemblance  in  style  and 
structure  to  those  of  Steele  and  Addison,  as  to  lead  the 
reader,  at  first  view,  to  think  he  has  seen  them  before. 
Here  is  a  part  of  a  paper  on  the  prevailing  fashions, 
which  seemed  familiar  to  the  ear  when  first  read,  but  I 
am  not  able  to  decide  upon  its  originality  :  — 

The  love  of  novelty  is  the  parent  of  Fashion,  and  as  the  fancy  sick 
ens  with  one  image,  it  longs  for  another.  This  is  the  cause  of  the 
continued  revolutions  of  habit  and  behavior,  and  why  we  are  so  indus 
trious  in  pursuing  the  change.  This  makes  Fashion  so  universally  fol 
lowed,  and  is  the  true  reason  why  the  awkwardest  people  are  as  fond 
of  this  folly  as  the  genteelest,  who  give  a  grace  to  every  thing  they 
wear.  .  .  .  'Tis  plain  that  every  novelty  is  not  beauty,  and  that  it  re 
quires  great  elegance  of  taste  and  truth  of  judgement  to  determine  the 
modes  of  dress ;  that  every  one  should  consult  the  particular  turn  of 
their  own  manner  in  their  choice,  and  be  well  convinced  of  its  pro 
priety  before  they  ventured  to  set  the  world  an  example.  But,  as  this 
is  very  seldom  found,  I  shall  content  myself  with  recommending  it 
only,  and  make  the  present  entertainment  a  mere  register  of  the  fash 
ions  that  are,  by  turns,  in  vogue,  with  a  hint  or  two  at  the  characters  of 
the  in  venters. 

I  shall  not  busy  myself  with  the  ladies'  shoes  and  stockings  at  all ; 
but  I  can't  so  easily  pass  over  the  Hoop,  when  'tis  in  my  way,  and 
therefore  I  must  beg  pardon  of  my  fair  readers,  if  I  begin  my  attack 
here.  'Tis  now  some  years  since  this  remarkable  fashion  made  a  figure 
in  the  world,  and  from  its  first  beginning  divided  the  public  opinion  as 
to  its  convenience  and  beauty.  For  my  part,  I  was  always  willing  to 
indulge  it,  under  some  restrictions  :  that  is  to  say,  if  'tis  not  a  rival  to 
the  dome  of  St.  Paul's,  to  incumber  the  way,  or  a  tub  for  the  residence 
of  a  new  Diogenes :  if  it  does  not  eclipse  too  much  beauty  above,  or 
discover  too  much  below.  In  short,  I  am  for  living  in  peace,  and  I  am 
afraid  a  fine  lady,  with  too  much  liberty  in  this  particular,  would  ren 
der  my  own  imagination  an  enemy  to  my  repose. 

*  *  *  *  # 

The   Farthingale,  according  to  several  paintings,  and  even  history 


116  WEEKLY    REHEARSAL. 

itself,  is  as  old  as  Queen  Elizabeth  of  blessed  memory,  though  'tis 
impossible  it  had  its  original  in  the  same  manner  with  the  Hoop 
and  was  worn  as  universally ;  but  the  prudes  of  our  days  revived  it  in 
stark  opposition  to  that  fashion,  and  boasted  that  while  they  were  in  that 
circle  they  were  secure  from  temptation ;  nay  some  of  them  have  pre 
sumed  to  say  it  gave  them  all  the  chastity  of  that  heroic  Princess,  who 
died  as  she  had  lived,  a  Virgin,  after  so  many  years  of  trial. 

The  Stay  is  a  part  of  modern  dress  that  I  have  an  invincible  aver 
sion  to,  as  giving  a  stiffness  to  the  Avhole  frame,  which  is  void  of  all 
grace,  and  an  enemy  to  beauty ;  but  as  I  would  not  offend  the  ladies  by 
absolutely  condemning  what  they  are  fond  of,  I'll  recall  my  censure, 
and  only  observe  that  this  female  armor  is  changing  mode  continually, 
and  favors  or  distresses  the  enemy  according  to  the  humor  of  the 
wearer;  sometimes  the  Stomacher  almost  rises  to  the  chin,  and  a  Mod 
esty-Bit  serves  the  purpose  of  a  ruff;  at  other  times  'tis  so  complaisant 
as  not  to  reach  half  way,  and  the  Modesty  is  but  a  transparent  show  to 
the  beauties  underneath  ;  the  first  may  give  passion  too  great  a  license, 
and  the  last  may  be  an  injury  to  nature ;  for  which  reason  I  recommend 
a  medium.  Coquettes  are  the  encouragcrs  of  one  and  Prudes  of  the 
other. 

=£*#:*##=** 

I  have  no  objections  to  make  to  the  Tippet;  it  may  be  made  an  ele 
gant  and  beautiful  ornament.  In  winter  the  sable  is  wonderfully 
graceful  and  a  fine  help  to  the  complexion ;  in  summer  the  colors  and 
compositions  are  to  be  adapted  with  judgement,  neither  dull  without 
fancy,  nor  gaudy  without  beauty.  I  have  seen  too  many  of  the  last, 
but,  as  I  believe  them  to  be  the  first  trial  of  a  child's  genius  in  such 
performances,  I  only  give  this  hint  for  their  amendment. 

As  the  Breast  Knot  allows  a  good  deal  of  ingenuity  in  the  delicate 
choice  of  colors  and  disposition  of  figure,  I  think  it  may  be  indulged, 
but  very  sparingly,  and  rather  with  a  negligence  than  the  least  affecta 
tion.  It  seems  there  is  a  fashion  even  in  the  colors  of  ribands,  and  I 
have  observed  a  beautiful  purple  to  be  lately  the  general  mode ;  but 
'tis  not  the  beauty  of  the  color  that  recommends  it  so  much  as  the  sym 
bol  it  is  said  to  bear. 

I  come  now  to  the  Head-Dress,  the  very  highest  point  of  female  ele 
gance  ;  and  here  I  find  such  a  variety  of  modes,  such  a  medley  of 
decoration,  that  'tis  hard  to  know  where  to  fix ;  lace  and  cambrick, 
gauze  and  fringe,  feathers  and  ribands,  create  such  a  confusion,  occa 
sion  such  frequent  changes,  that  it  defies  art,  judgement,  or  taste,  to 
recommend  them  to  any  standard,  or  reduce  them  to  any  order.  That 
ornament  of  the  hair,  which  is  styled  the  Horns,  and  has  been  in  vogue 


JEREMY    GRIDLEY.  117 

so  long,  was  certainly  first  calculated  by  some  good-natured  lady  to  keep 
her  spouse  in  countenance. 

i*****:*:** 

The  Hat  and  Peruke,  which  has  been  some  time  made  part  of  a 
lady's  riding  equipage,  is  such  an  odd  kind  of  affectation,  that  I  hardly 
know  under  what  species  to  range  it ;  'tis  such  an  enemy  to  female 
beauty,  'tis  so  foreign  to  every  amiable  grace,  it  adds  such  a  masculine 
fierceness  to  the  figure,  and  such  a  boldness  to  every  feature,  that 
neither  decency  nor  elegance  can  justify  it. 

The  Riding  Habit  simply,  with  the  black  velvet  cap  and  white 
feather,  is,  in  my  opinion,  the  most  elegant  dress  that  belongs  to  a 
lady's  wardrobe  ;  there  is  a  grace  and  gentility  in  it  that  all  other  dresses 
want ;  it  displays  the  shape  and  turn  of  the  body  to  great  advantage, 
and  betrays  a  negligence  that  is  perfectly  agreeable.  This  fashion  was 
certainly  invented  by  a  woman  of  taste,  and  I  am  pleased  to  see  the 
ladies  in  general  so  well  reconciled  to  it.  It  argues  something  like 
good  sense  in  their  choice  still  remaining,  and  she,  who  makes  her 
whole  actions  most  conformable  to  that  standard,  will  always  be  most 
secure  of  conquests  and  reputation. 

This  produced,  in  the  next  Rehearsal,  a  retort  from  a 
female  correspondent,  who  said  :  — 

You  seem  to  blame  us  for  our  innovations  and  fleeting  fancy  in 
dress,  which  you  are  most  notoriously  guilty  of,  who  esteem  your  selves 
the  mighty,  wise,  and  head  of  the  species.  Therefore  I  think  it  highly 
necessary  that  you  show  us  the  example  first,  and  begin  the  reformation 
among  your  selves,  if  you  intend  your  observations  shall  have  any 
with  us.  I  leave  the  world  to  judge  whether  our  petticoat  resembles 
the  dome  of  St.  Paul's  nearer  than  you  in  your  long  coats  do  the  Mon 
ument,  or  (not  to  borrow  similes  from  abroad)  our  Beacon.  You  com 
plain  of  our  masculine  appearance  in  our  riding  habit,  and  indeed  we 
think  it  is  but  reasonable  that  we  should  make  reprisals  upon  you,  for 
the  invasion  of  our  dress  and  figure,  and  the  advances  you  make  in 
effeminacy,  and  your  degeneracy  from  the  figure  of  man.  Can  there 
be  a  more  ridiculous  appearance  than  to  see  a  smart  fellow  within  the 
compass  of  five  feet  immersed  in  a  huge  long  coat  to  his  heels,  with  cuffs 
to  the  arm-pits,  the  shoulders  and  breast  fenced  against  the  inclemencies 
of  the  weather  (with  as  much  care  as  a  wet  nurse)  by  a  monstrous  cape, 
or  rather  short  cloak,  shoe  toes  pointed  to  the  heavens  in  imitation  of  the 
Laplanders,  with  buckles  of  a  harness  size1?  I  confess  the  Beaux  with 
their  toupee  wigs  make  us  extremely  merry ;  and  frequently  put  me  in 
mind  of  my  favorite  monkey,  both  in  figure  and  apishness,  and  were  it 


118  WEEKLY    REHEARSAL. 

not  for  a  reverse  of  circumstance,  I  should  be  apt  to  mistake  it  for  Pug, 
and  treat  him  with  the  same  familiarity. 

The  essay  here  annexed  has  two  or  three  expressions, 
which  the  taste  of  the  present  age  may  condemn  as  in 
delicate,  but  I  have  presumed  to  transcribe  it  without 
abridgement :  — 

Naturam  expellas  furia  licet,  usque  recurret. 

Horace. 

There  is  an  old  Heathen  story,  that  Prometheus,  who  was  a  potter 
in  Greece,  took  a  frolic  to  turn  all  the  clay  in  his  shop  into  men  and 
women,  separating  the  fine  from  the  coarse,  in  order  to  distinguish  the 
sexes.  The  males  were  formed  of  a  mixture,  blue  red,  as  being  of  the 
toughest  consistence,  fitter  for  creatures  destined  for  hardships,  labor, 
and  difficult  enterprizes ;  the  females  were  moulded  out  of  the  most 
refined  stuff,  much  of  the  like  substance  with  China  Ware,  transparent 
and  brittle,  designing  them  mostly  for  show  and  beauty.  By  the 
transparency  he  intended  the  men  might  see  so  plainly  through  them, 
that  they  should  not  be  capable  of  hypocrisy,  falsehood,  or  intrigue, 
and  by  their  brittleness  he  taught  them  they  were  to  be  handled  with  a 
tenderness  suitable  to  their  delicacy  of  constitution. 

It  was  pleasant  enough  to  see  with  what  contrivance  and  order  he 
disposed  of  his  journeymen  in  their  several  apartments,  and  how 
judiciously  he  assigned  to  each  of  them  his  work,  according  to  his 
natural  capacity  and  talents,  so  that  every  member  and  part  of  the  hu 
man  frame  was  finished  with  the  utmost  exactness  and  beauty. 

In  one  chamber  you  might  see  a  Leg-shaper;  in  another  a  Skull- 
rotter  ;  in  a  third  an  Arm-stretcher ;  in  a  fourth  a  Gut-winder ;  for  each 
workman  was  distinguished  by  a  proper  term  of  art,  such  as  a  Knuckle- 
turner,  Tooth- Grinder,  Rib-cooper,  Muscle-maker,  Tendon-drawer,  Paunch- 
blower,  Vein-brancher,  and  suchlike.  But  Prometheus  himself  T&a&G  the 
eyes,  the  ears,  and  the  heart;  which,  because  of  their  nice  and  intricate 
structure,  were  chiefly  the  business  of  a  master-workman.  Besides  this, 
he  completed  the  whole  by  fitting  and  joining  the  several  parts  together 
according  to  the  best  symmetry  and  proportion.  The  statues  are  now 
upon  their  legs.  Life,  the  chief  ingredient,  is  wanting.  Prometheus 
takes  a  ferula  in  his  hand,  (a  reed  of  the  island  of  Chios,  having  an  oil 
pith)  steals  up  the  back  stairs  to  Apollo's  lodgings,  lights  it  clandes 
tinely  at  the  chariot  of  the  Sun  ;  so  down  he  creeps  upon  his  tip-toes 
to  his  warehouse,  and,  in  a  very  few  minutes,  by  an  application  of  the 
flame  to  the  nostrils  of  his  clay  images,  sets  them  all  a  stalking  and 


JEREMY    GRIDLEY.  1  I  9 

staring  through  one  another,  but  entirely  insensible  of  what  they  were 
doing.  They  looked  so  like  the  latter  end  of  a  Lord  Mayor's  feast,  he 
could  not  bear  the  sight  of  them.  He  saw  it  was  absolutely  necessary 
to  give  them  Passions,  or  Life  would  be  an  insipid  thing :  and  so,  from 
the  superabundance  of  them  in  other  animals,  he  culls  out  enough  for 
his  purpose,  which  he  blended  and  tempered  so  well  before  infusion, 
that  his  men  and  women  became  the  most  amiable  creatures  that 
thought  can  conceive. 

Love  was  then  like  a  pure  vestal  flame,  not  made  up  of  sudden  joy, 
transports  and  extasies,  but  constant,  friendly,  and  benevolent. 

Anger  did  not  appear  horrid  and  frightful  by  turbulent  emotions  of 
the  breast  and  distortions  of  the  face ;  but  preserved  a  dignity  of 
resentment  in  the  countenance,  commanding  a  reverential  awe  in  the 
offender. 

Fear  did  not  in  the  least  encroach  upon  the  bounds  of  Fortitude,  by 
a  slavish  dejection  of  spirits,  nor  was  it  ever  seen  upon  any  occasion, 
but  as  a  monitor,  to  prevent  the  doing  of  any  action,  which  might  be 
attended  with  disgrace  or  repentance. 

In  the  same  manner  was  every  passion  and  appetite  under  the  best 
regulation  and  dominion  of  reason.  The  world  would  have  been  a 
most  delightful  scene,  had  people  continued  in  this  situation;  but,  alas! 
there  can  be  no  happiness  here  without  a  mixture  of  misery. 

Prometheus  is  apprehended  for  his  theft  and  presumption,  bound  fast 
in  chains  to  a  rock,  with  a  vulture  to  prey  upon  his  liver.  His  jour 
neymen  get  drunk  for  joy.  They  were  now  their  own  masters  ;  during 
which  interval  they  fall  to  man-and-womari-making,  with  excessive  pre 
cipitation  and  hurry.  Now  you  might  see  a  small  head  set  upon  a  pair 
of  broad  shoulders ;  a  nose,  too  long,  too  short,  too  thick,  too  small,  or 
awry  on  the  face ;  a  large  heavy  carcase  reared  upon  a  small  pair  of 
spindle  shanks,  by  which  means  they  become  bandy ;  a  long  chin  to  a 
short  face  ;  one  arm  longer  than  the  other ;  eyes  too  big  for  their  sock 
ets  ;  mouth  three  times  too  wide  or  too  narrow ;  every  part  and  limb 
almost  chosen  and  put  together  at  random.  But  to  conclude  the  farce, 
when  they  came  to  passion-work,  instead  of  blending  and  tempering 
them  in  true  proportion,  they  took  from  the  worst  of  animals,  simply 
and  by  guess.  To  one  was  given  the  rage  and  fury  of  a  wolf;  hence 
came  a  most  virulent,  persecuting,  malicious  villain ;  from  whom  has  de 
scended  those  boisterous  and  outrageous  pests  of  society,  who  are  every 
day  disturbing  our  peace,  —  the  only  blessing  we  can  enjoy  upon  earth. 
To  another,  the  poison  and  rancor  of  a  toad  ;  from  whom  sprang  the 
revengeful,  who,  upon  the  least  touch  of  offence,  are  ever  upon  the 
watch,  to  ruin  the  inadvertent.  To  another,  the  subtlety  and  cunning 


120  WEEKLY    REHEARSAL. 

of  a  fox  ;  from  whom  we  trace  the  politician,  who  turns  all  the  motions 
of  his  soul  to  seducing,  betraying,  surprizing,  fair  promises  with  foul 
intentions,  perpetual  stratagems  to  his  own  advantage,  i  nder  the  specious  ap 
pearance  of  the  public  good.  To  another,  the  alertnr  ss  of  a  monkey : 
He  begat  a  large  family  of  jibbers,  buffoons  and  mimics ;  these  are  a 
numerous  breed,  and  dispersed  over  the  face  of  the  whole  earth.  The 
chief  business  of  their  lives  is  to  make  people  laugh  at  one  another, 
and  not  to  spare  even  their  nearest  friends,  who,  while  they  are  copying 
the  imperfections  of  others,  come  to  be  originals.  You  may  distinguish 
this  happy  race  by  their  hawk-noses,  one  eye  less  than  t'other,  and  a 
perpetual  sneer,  which,  by  repeated  habit,  becomes  inseparable  from 
their  faces.  To  another,  the  pride  of  a  peacock :  He  turns  beau, 
stitches  all  the  tinsel  about  him  that  he  can,  hangs  a  tail  to  his  head, 
and  so  walks  through  the  world.  To  another,  the  gluttony,  laziness, 
and  luxury  of  a  hog  :  From  him  descend  all  whose  chief  exercise  con 
sists  in  eating  and  drinking.  They  are  easily  distinguished  by  the 
plumpness  and  rotundity  of  their  dewlap,  and  torosity  of  their  necks  and 
breasts,  and  the  prominence  of  their  abdomen.  Numberless  are  the  in 
stances  that  might  be  given  of  the  predominance  of  brutes,  thus  occa 
sioned  in  men  ;  but  I  hasten  to  give  a  summary  account  of  the  animals 
chiefly  chosen  by  these  journeymen,  to  give  proper  accomplishments  to 
the  other  sex,  viz.  Cats,  Ferrets,  Weasels,  Vipers,  Magpies,  Geese, 
Wagtails,  Eats,  Stoats,  Rattle-snakes,  Wasps,  Hornets,  and  some  few 
others.  It  is  needless  to  inform  the  reader  what  qualities  were  infused 
from  these,  when  he  can  behold  them  so  plainly  in  one  half  or  more  of 
his  female  acquaintance. 

Upon  the  whole  I  shall  make  this  remark,  that  the  handy  work  of 
Prometheus  and  their  progeny  are  to  be  distinguished,  with  the  greatest 
ease,  from  that  of  his  journeymen ;  his  being  all  humane,  benevolent, 
easy,  affable,  good-humored,  charitable,  and  friendly :  whereas,  those  of 
his  journeymen  are  cruel,  malicious,  turbulent,  morose,  ill-natured, 
snarling,  quarrelsome,  pragmatical,  covetous,  and  inhuman,  which  we 
daily  experience  among  the  great  vulgar  and  the  small,  nor  can  all  the 
power  of  art  or  education  entirely  wash  away  the  dirt  of  the  journey 
man's  palm,  or  quite  abolish  or  restrain  that  exuberance  of  wrong  pas 
sions,  which  are  owing  to  the  cause  already  assigned. 

Four  of  this  series  of  essays  in  the  Rehearsal  are 
occupied  with  a  discussion  upon  the  frauds  and  delusions, 
to  which  mankind  are  subjected,  by  natural  causes  or  by 
the  deceptions  of  the  artful  and  hypocritical ;  and  in 


JEREMY    GRIDLEY.  121 

attempting  to  remove  the  popular  impressions  and  fears 
of  spirits,  apparitions,  and  witches;  a  subject  suggested, 
no  doubt,  by  the  proceedings  in  relation  to  witchcraft, 
which,  about  that  time,  were  carried  on  with  a  perti 
nacity  and  apparent  sincerity,  that  have  been  the  aston 
ishment  of  all  the  succeeding  generations.  The  style 
and  mode  of  treating  this  subject  will  be  sufficiently 
shown  in  the  extracts  that  follow :  — 

#  #  #  ~\,ve  are  not,  and  we  cannot  be,  sure  that  there  are  not  other 
beings,  who  are  inhabitants  of  the  air  or  aether,  with  bodies  suited 
to  and  nourished  by  these  thin  elements,  and  perhaps  with  senses  and 
faculties  superior  to  us  ;  for  the  works  of  Almighty  God  are  as  infinite 
as  is  his  power  to  do  them ;  and  'tis  paying  a  greater  deference  to  him, 
and  having  higher  conceptions  of  his  omnipotence,  to  suppose  that  he 
saw  all  things  which  have  been,  are,  or  ever  shall  be,  at  one  view,  and 
formed  the  whole  system  of  nature  with  such  exquisite  contrivance  and 
infinite  wisdom  as  by  its  own  energy  and  intrinsic  powers,  to  produce 
all  the  effects  and  operations  which  we  daily  see,  feel,  and  admire ;  than 
to  believe  him  to  be  often  interposing  to  alter  and  amend  his  own  work, 
which  was  undoubtedly  perfect  at  first,  though  in  the  pursuit  of  his 
eternal  decrees,  and  in  the  course,  progress,  and  unbroken  chain  of  his 
original  system,  he  seems  to  us,  sometimes,  to  act  occasionally  when  in 
compliance  to  our  weak  comprehensions,  and  in  condescension  to  our 
low  capacities,  he  speaks  and  appears  to  act  after  the  manner  of  men- 
We  have  not  faculties  to  see  or  know  things  as  they  are  in  themselves, 
but  only  in  such  lights  as  our  Creator  pleases  to  represent  them  to  us ; 
He  has  given  us  talents  suited  to  our  wants  and  to  understand  his  will, 
and  obey  it ;  and  here  is  our  ne  plus  ultra.  We  may  be  very  sure  that  we 
are  not  obliged  to  know  what  'tis  beyond  our  power  to  know ;  but  all 
such  things  are  as  nonentities  to  us. 

Whenever  therefore  we  hear  of  or  see  any  surprizing  appearances  or 
events  in  nature,  which  we  cannot  trace  and  connect  to  their  immediate 
causes,  we  are  not  to  call  in  supernatural  powers,  and  interest  heaven 
or  hell  in  the  solution  to  save  our  credit  and  cover  our  own  folly,  when 
there  are  so  few  things  in  the  world  we  know  any  thing  of,  and  of  these 
few  we  know  but  very  little.  We  are  not  to  measure  the  works  of  God 
by  our  scanty  capacities  ;  and  believe  that  he  miraculously  interposes  in 
the  course  of  human  affairs,  but  when  he  pleases  to  intimate  to  us,  that 
he  intends  to  do  so  5  much  less  ought  we  to  introduce  demons  into  his 

11 


122  WEEKLY     REHEARSAL. 

system  of  the  universe,  unless  as  objects  or  instruments,  and  execution, 
ers  of  his  vengeance ;  but  not  to  intrude  into  his  government  of  the 
world,  to  trepan  and  mislead  his  creatures,  and  to  thwart  and  oppose 
himself;  and  every  now  and  anon,  to  cut  the  chain,  stop  the  wheels, 
and  interrupt  the  course  of  his  Providence. 

#  *     *     *     # 

Which  of  our  senses  does  not  often  deceive  us  ?  Strangling,  or 
strong  presstire  of  the  eyes,  causes  all  things  to  appear  on  fire ;  of  the 
ears,  makes  us  hear  noises  ;  straight  things,  in  the  water,  appear  crook 
ed  ;  bodies,  by  reflection  or  refraction,  appear  otherwise  and  in  other 
places,  than  they  are  in  Nature.  All  things  appear  yellow  to  men  in 
the  jaundice ;  and  to  those  in  calentures,  the  sea  appears  like  a  green 
meadow,  and,  if  not  restrained,  they  will  leap  into  it.  Melancholy  and 
enthusiastic  persons  fancy  themselves  to  be  glass  bottles,  knives,  and 
tankards  5  madmen  often  believe  themselves  gods  or  princes,  and  almost 

always  see  spirits The  frame  and  contexture  of  our 

bodies  betrays  us  to  these  delusions.  For  as  all  objects  and  images 
from  without  are  let  in  upon  the  mind  by  the  windows  or  conduits  of 
the  senses,  and  the  mind  afterwards  ranges,  methodizes,  operates,  and 
reasons  upon  them ;  so  it  can  only  work  upon  such  materials  as  it  re 
ceives,  and  consequently  when  the  organs  of  sensation  are  wrong-framed 
in  their  original  contexture,  or  depraved  after  by  sickness  or  accidents, 
the  mind  must  be  misled  too,  and  often  mistake  appearances  for  real 
beings  :  When  the  spies,  scouts,  and  out-guards  are  seized,  corrupted, 
or  deceived,  the  intelligence  will  be  fallacious  or  none  at  all. 

#  *     *     =*     =& 

Our  present  workers  or  seers  of  miracles  never  tell  us  any  thing  worth 
knowing ;  and  we  have  no  other  evidence  that  they  are  seen  or  done, 
but  the  veracity  of  those  who  tell  them,  who  may  be  deceived  themselves, 
or  invent  lies  to  deceive  others.  The  proof  ought  always  to  be  equal  to 
the  importance  of  the  thing  to  be  believed  ;  for,  when  it  is  more  likely 
that  a  man  should  tell  a  lie,  or  be  deceived,  than  that  a  strange  pheno 
menon  should  be  true,  methinks  there  should  be  no  difficulty  to  determine 
on  which  side  of  the  question  we  should  give  our  assent. 

If  one  or  two  men  affirm  they  saw  another  leap  twenty  yards  at  one 
leap,  no  one  will  doubt  but  they  are  liars  ;  but  if  they  testify  that  they 
saw  a  goblin  with  saucer  eyes  and  cloven  feet,  in  a  church  yard,  leap 
over  the  tower,  all  the  town  is  in  a  fright,  and  few  of  them  will  venture 
to  walk  abroad  in  a  dark  night.  Sometimes  these  phantoms  appear  to 
one  who  is  in  company  with  others,  and  no  one  can  see  them  but  him 
self;  and  yet  all  the  rest  are  terrified  at  his  relation,  without  reasoning 
that  they  have  the  same,  or  better  faculties  of  seeing  than  he  has  ;  and 


JEREMY    GKIDLEY.  123 

therefore  that  his  organs  must  be  indisposed,  or  that  he  designs  to  im 
pose  upon  them ;  but  it  passes  for  a  miracle,  and  then  all  doubts  are 
solved  and  all  inquiries  at  an  end.  All  men  believe  most  of  these  stories 
to  be  false,  and  yet  almost  all  believe  some  of  them  to  be  true,  upon  no 
better  evidence  than  they  reject  the  rest.  The  next  story  of  an  old 
woman  inhabiting  a  cat,  or  flying  in  the  air  upon  a  broomstick,  sets 
them  a  staring,  and  puts  their  incredulity  to  a  non  plus.  We  often  hear 
of  a  spirit  appearing  to  discover  a  silver  spoon,  a  purse  of  hidden 
money,  or  perhaps  a  private  murder ;  but  we  are  never  told  of  a  tyrant, 
who  by  private  murder  has  slaughtered  thousands,  and  by  public 
butcheries  destroyed  millions,  ever  dragged  out  of  his  court  by  good  or 
evil  spirits,  as  a  terror  to  such  monsters ;  such  an  instance  would  con 
vince  all  mankind ;  and  if  Almighty  God  thought  fit  to  work  by  such 
engines,  and  intended  that  we  should  believe  in  them  or  any  of  them,  it 
is  impossible  to  believe  but  he  would  take  the  properest  methods  to  gain 
our  assent. 

From  what  I  have  said,  and  much  more  which  might  be  said,  I  think 
I  may  with  great  assurance  conclude,  that  these  capricious  and  fantas 
tical  beings  are  not  suffered  to  interfere  and  mingle  with  human  aifairs, 
only  to  mislead  men,  and  interrupt  them  in  the  pursuit  of  their  duty ; 
nor  can  I  see  any  foundation  in  nature,  reason,  or  Scripture,  to  believe 
there  are  any  such  as  they  are  usually  represented  to  us,  which  neither 
agree  and  keep  up  to  the  characters,  dignity,  and  excellence  of  good 
angels,  or  the  sagacity,  use,  and  office  of  bad  ones.  When  are  we  com 
manded  to  believe  that  the  Devil  plays  hide-and-seek  here  on  earth ; 
that  he  is  permitted  to  run  up  and  down  and  divert  himself  by  seducing 
ignorant  men  and  women ;  killing  pigs,  or  making  them  miscarry ; 
entering  into  cats,  and  making  noises,  and  playing  monkey-tricks  in 
church-yards  and  empty  houses,  or  any  where  else  on  earth,  but  in 
empty  heads  ? 

#    #    *    #    *    * 

Methinks  the  advocates  for  Satan's  empire  here  on  earth  are  not  very 
consistent  with  themselves ;  and  in  the  works  they  attribute  to  him  do 

not  credit  enough  to  his  abilities  and  power They  give  him 

a  power  to  do  miracles ;  make  him  prince  of  the  air,  lord  of  the  hidden 
minerals,  wise,  rich,  and  powerful :  as  well  as  false,  treacherous,  and 
wicked ;  and  are  foolish  and  presumptuous  enough  to  bring  him  upon 
the  stage  as  a  rival  for  empire  with  the  Almighty,  but  at  the  same  time 
put  a  fool's  coat  and  cap  upon  him.  His  skill  has  hitherto  gone  no 
farther  than  to  cram  pins  down  children's  throats,  and  throw  them  into 
fits ;  to  turn  wort,  to  kill  pigs,  to  sell  wind,  (dog-cheap  too  ; )  to  put  out 
candles,  or  to  make  half  blind  people  see  two  at  once  ;  to  help  hares  to 


124  WEEKLY    REHEARSAL. 

run  away  from  dogs ;  .  .  ' .  .  and  such  like  feats  of  knight-errantry 
And  what  is  yet  worse,  I  cannot  find  in  these  last  eighteen  hundred 
years,  that,  with  all  his  cunning,  he  has  invented  one  new  trick,  but  goes 
on  in  the  same  dull  road ;  for  there  is  scarce  a  story  told  of  a  spirit  or  a 
witch,  who  has  played  pranks  in  the  next  parish,  but  we  have  the  same 
story,  or  one  very  like  it,  in  Cicero's  Tract,  de  Divinatione. 

He  always  plays  at  small  games,  and  lives  mostly  upon  reek-beef. 
His  intrigues  are  all  with  old  women,  and  when  he  has  gained  his  ends 
of  them,  feeds  them  only  with  bread  and  water,  and  gives  them  but  a 
groat  in  their  pocket  to  buy  tobacco ;  which,  in  my  mind  is  very  ungal. 
lant,  not  to  say  niggardly  and  ungenerous  in  so  great  a  potentate,  who 
has  all  the  riches  of  the  hidden  world  within  his  dominions.  I  cannot 
find  in  all  my  reading,  that  he  has  expended  as  much  in  five  hundred 
years  last  past,  as  would  have  carried  one  election. 

Methinks,  he  might  have  learnt  a  little  more  wit  from  his  faithful 
emissaries  here  on  earth,  who  throw  and  scatter  about  money  as  if  there 
was  never  to  be  an  end  of  it ;  and  get  him  more  votaries  in  a  week  than 
he  can  purchase  for  himself  in  a  century,  and  put  him  to  not  a  penny 
charge  neither ;  for  they  buy  people  with  their  own  money :  But  to  keep 
such  a  clatter  and  coil  about  an  old  woman,  and  then  leave  her  to  be 
hanged  that  he  may  get  her  into  his  clutches  a  month  sooner,  is  very 
ungrateful;  and,  as  I  conceive,  wholly  unsuitable  to  a  person  of  his 
rank  and  figure. 

I  should  have  imagined,  that  it  would  have  been  more  agreeable  to 
the  wisdom  and  cunning  always  attributed  to  him,  in  imitation  of  his 
betters,  to  have  opened  his  purse-strings,  and  have  purchased  people  of 
more  importance,  and  who  could  do  him  more  real  service.  I  fancy  that 
I  know  some  of  them,  who  Avould  be  ready  to  take  his  money,  if  they 
knew  where  he  was  to  be  spoken  with  ;  and  who  are  men  of  nice  honor, 
and  would  not  betray  or  break  their  word  with  him,  whatever  they  may 
do  with  their  countrymen.  Besides,  I  conceive,  it  is  very  impolitic  in 
one  of  his  sagacity  and  in  one  who  has  so  many  able  ministers  in  his  own 
dominions,  and  elsewhere,  to  act  so  incautious  a  part.  It  is  very  well 
known,  a  plot  discovered,  or  a  rebellion  quelled,  gives  new  credit  and 
reputation  to  the  conquerors,  who  always  make  use  of  them  to  settle 
their  own  empire,  effectually  to  subdue  their  enemies,  to  lessen  their 
powers,  and  to  force  them  for  the  most  part  to  change  sides  ;  and,  in  fact, 
one  witch  hanged  or  burnt,  makes  old  Beelzebub  a  great  many  adversa 
ries,  and  frightens  thousands  from  having  any  more  to  do  with  him. 

For  these  reasons  I  doubt  he  is  shrewdly  belied  by  those  from  whom 
he  might  expect  better  usage ;  and  that  all  the  stones  commonly  told 
about,  and  believed  concerning,  him,  are  invented  and  credited  by  such 


JEREMY    GR1DLEY.  125 

only  as  have  much  less  wit  or  not  more  honesty  than  himself.  To  enter 
into  a  detail  of  them  is  endless,  as  well  as  unnecessary  for  my  pur 
pose 

An  essay  on  Liberty  and  Toleration  concludes  with 
these  very  just  remarks  :  — 

Perverseness  and  obstinacy  are  generally  charged  upon  those  that  re 
fuse  a  compliance  in  all  schemes.  This  may  not  be  true,  even  where 
the  scheme  is  most  unexceptionable ;  but  they  are  for  the  most  part 
drawn  up  in  words  and  forms  so  liable  to  dispute,  and  take  in  so  many 
and  unnecessary  points,  which  are  all  equally  prescribed  under  the  same 
sanctions  with  the  plainest  and  most  important  parts  ;  and  without  giv 
ing  assent  to  all  and  every  particular,  how  near  so  ever  a  man  may 
approach  towards  it,  there  is  no  coming  in  honestly ;  that  what  is  called 
stubbornness  is  frequently  nothing  else  but  the  most  unbiassed  integrity, 
and  a  more  awful  sense  and  reverence  of  truth  than  the  greatest  part  of 
men  have.  And  in  all  instances  of  non-compliance  to  a  man's  evident 
disadvantage  in  several  considerable  respects,  'tis  fair  presumption  that 
he  is  a  person  of  probity  and  conscience,  though  he  may  lie  under  an 
unfortunate  mistake. 

The  following  Lines  in  the  Rehearsal  of  December 
13,  were  inserted  at  the  request  of  a  friend,  and  said  to 
be  the  production  of  a  young  gentleman  in  the  country  : 

ON   A  LADY,   SINGING. 
Whilst  Celia  sings,  let  no  intruding  breath 
Deform  the  air ;  ye  winds,  grow  calm  as  death. 
On  silken  wings,  ye  whispering  zephyrs  fly, 
And  in  soft  murmurs  steal  along  the  sky, 
Soft  as  the  murmurs  of  a  virgin's  sigh. 
Close  in  the  deep  recesses  of  my  breast, 
Those  deep  recesses,  where  she  reigns  confest, 
Let  every  traitor  passion  lie  confined  ; 
Let  Love  himself  seem  banished  from  my  mind. 
Let  every  sigh  be  hushed  ;  for  should  my  sighs 
Burst  forth,  and  in  rebellious  murmurs  rise, 
My  sighs  with  noise  the  solemn  scene  would  fill 
And  breathe  a  storm,  though  all  the  winds  were  still. 
In  vain,  ye  gales,  your  silken  plumes  display, 
In  silence  rise,  in  silence  melt  away, 
Soft  as  the  voice,  and  gentle  as  the  lay. 
11* 


126  WEEKLY    REHEARSAL. 

Strange  power  of  harmony !  whose  silver  sound 

Can  charm  so  sweetly,  and  so  sweetly  wound. 

Transported  with  the  notes,  that  pierce  our  ear, 

Our  raptured  souls  exulting  spring  to  hear. 

My  raptured  soul  would  soar  with  every  strain, 

But  that  thy  eyes  command  it  back  again. 

To  raise  our  powers  with  heavenly  notes  is  thine, 

To  bid  our  grosser  parts  to  soul  refine ; 

'Tis  thine,  fair  Maid,  with  gentle  warbling  airs, 

To  soothe  our  passions,  and  beguile  all  cares. 

All  —  but  the  cares  of  love  ;  these  still  arise, 

Heave  in  our  breasts,  and  wanton  in  our  eyes. 

Assisted  by  thy  breath,  the  flames  aspire, 

Glow  with  new  rage,  and  blaze  with  double  fire. 

Thus  darts  in  venom  steeped  with  barbarous  skill, 

Wing  certain  fate,  with  two-fold  anguish  kill. 

None  but  the  Father  of  the  gods,  and  you 

Could  dart  a  flame  so  bright  and  killing  too. 

Swift  as  Jove's  lightning  flies  each  fatal  sound, 

And,  like  Jove's  lightning,  kills  without  a  wound. 

The  muse  invoked  in  elegiac  strains 

Soft  warbling,  strings  the  lyre  to  ease  our  pains. 

Flow  soft,  ye  strains  !  and  soothe  her  savage  mind  ; 

0  learn  to  charm  the  nymph,  who  charms  mankind. 

In  vain,  alas  !  the  muse  and  treacherous  lyre 

Torment  our  flames  and  face  the  raging  fire  ; 

Whilst  you,  like  Echo,  with  so  sweet  a  sound, 

Repeat  our  strains.  .  .  .  Our  strains  increase  the  wound. 

Think,  then,  thou  Fairest  of  the  fairer  train  ! 

What  fatal  beauties  arm  thy  face  and  mein  ; 

Whose  very  voice  can  lasting  flame  inspire, 

We  think  'tis  air,  but  ah  !  we  feel  'tis  fire. 

The  original  essays  of  the  editor  of  the  Rehearsal 
were  discontinued  before  the  close  of  the  first  year.  It 
became  then  a  mere  record  of  the  passing  events  of  the 
day.  In  1733,  Thomas  Fleet  who  had,  for  some  time, 
been  the  printer,  and  was  interested  in  the  publication, 
became  the  sole  proprietor.  In  announcing  the  new 
arrangement  to  the  public,  he  declared  himself  of  no 


JEREMY    GRIDLEY.  127 

party,  and  invited  "  all  gentlemen  of  leisure  and  ca 
pacity,  inclined  on  either  side,  to  write  any  thing  of  a 
political  nature,  that  tends  to  enlighten  and  serve  the 
public,  to  communicate  their  productions,  provided  they 
are  not  over  long,  and  confined  within  modesty  and  good 
manners  ;  for  all  possible  care  will  be  taken  that  nothing 
contrary  to  these  shall  ever  be  here  published." 

Of  Jeremy  Gridley,  the  projector,  author  and  proprietor 
of  the  Rehearsal,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Eliot  says,  in  his  Bio 
graphical  Dictionary,  —  "  He  was  Attorney-General  of 
the  province,  member  of  the  General  Court,  Colonel 
of  the  first  regiment  of  Militia,  President  of  the  Marine 
Society,  and  Grand  Master  of  Freemasons.  In  1725, 
he  took  his  degree  at  Cambridge ;  was  assistant  in  the 
Grammar  School  in  Boston,  and  a  preacher  of  the  Gos 
pel  ;  but  soon  turned  his  attention  to  the  law,  and 
became  one  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  profession.  In 
1732,  he  was  editor  of  a  newspaper  called  the  Rehearsal, 
and  filled  the  first  page  with  an  essay,  either  moral  or 
critical,  besides  writing  political  paragraphs.  His  man 
ner  of  writing  is  handsome,  and  his  speculations  ingen 
ious.  At  the  bar  his  speech  was  rough,  his  manner 
hesitating,  but  energetic,  and  his  words  forcible  by  a 
peculiar  emphasis.  His  opinion  was  always  given,  even 
to  the  judges,  with  a  magisterial  air  ;  his  legal  knowledge 
was  unquestionable.  He  was  on  the  side  of  the  Whigs  ; 
and,  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  where  he  was  a 
member  some  years  from  Brookline,  he  opposed  the 
measures  of  Great-Britain  ;  but  in  a  question  on  search- 
warrants,  his  speech  as  Attorney-General,  contains  senti 
ments  incompatible  with  freedom,  which  was  confuted 
by  Otis.  ...  He  died  poor,  because  he  despised 


128  WEEKLY    REHEARSAL. 

wealth."  He  died  in  Boston,  September  7,  1767.  The 
Gazette  and  News-Letter  of  the  17th  of  that  month  has 
the  following  "  Extempore  Lines  "  on  his  death  :  — 

Of  parts  and  learning,  wit  and  worth  possessed, 
Gridley  shone  forth,  conspicuous  o'er  the  rest ; 
In  native  powers  robust,  and  smit  with  fame, 
The  genius  brightened  and  the  spark  took  flame ; 
Nature  and  Science  wove  the  laurel  crown, 
Ambitious,  each  alike  conferred  renown. 

High  in  the  dignity  and  strength  of  thought, 
The  maze  of  knowledge  sedulous  he  sought, 
"With  mind  superior  studied  and  retained, 
And  Life  and  Property  by  Law  sustained. 

Generous  and  free,  his  liberal  hand  he  spread, 
The  oppressed  relieved,  and  for  the  needy  plead ; 
Awake  to  friendship,  with  the  ties  of  blood ; 
His  heart  expanded  and  his  soul  o'erflowed. 

Social  in  converse,  in  the  Senate  brave, 
Gay  e'en  with  dignity,  with  Avisdom  grave ; 
Long  to  his  country  and  to  courts  endeared, 
The  Judges  honored  and  the  Bar  revered. 

Rest,  peaceful  Shade  !  innoxious,  as  thy  walk, 
May  Slander  babble,  and  may  Censure  talk, 
Ne'er  on  thy  memory  Envy  cast  a  blot, 
But  human  frailties  in  thy  worth  forgot. 


THE  BOSTON  EVENING  POST. 


IN  the  Rehearsal  of  August  14,  1735,  Thomas  Fleet, 
then  its  sole  proprietor,  gave  notice  that,  for  the  future, 
he  should  print  it  every  Monday  evening,  —  instead  of 
Monday  morning,  as  it  had  previously  been  published  : 
But  the  next  Monday,  instead  of  the  Rehearsal,  he 
issued  a  paper  with  the  title  of  The  Boston  Evening 
Post,  —  in  every  thing  except  the  title,  a  fac  simile  of 
The  Rehearsal.  It  was  numbered  202,  —  the  last 
number  of  the  Rehearsal  having  been  201  ;  but,  in 
order  to  break  off  the  apparent  continuity  of  connection 
between  the  two  papers,  and  to  destroy  their  identity, 
the  second  number  of  the  Evening  Post  was  marked 
Number  2,  and  all  succeeding  issues  followed  in  their 
proper  numerical  order. 

The  Evening  Post  soon  became  the  most  popular  of 
the  Boston  newspapers.  Fleet  was  a  man  of  considera 
ble  talent,  and  often  afforded  specimens  of  his  wit  and 
humor  in  editorial  paragraphs  and  advertisements.  It 
does  not  appear,  from  the  files  of  his  paper,  that  he 
took  a  very  decided  part  in  the  political  or  religious  con 
troversies  of  the  day.  Writers  of  entirely  different 


130  BOSTON    EVENING    POST. 

views,  on  topics,  which  agitated  the  public  mind,  made 
use  of  his  columns,  without  stint,  and,  sometimes,  with 
little  regard  to  decency.  They  indulged,  occasionally, 
in  language,  which,  now,  would  subject  a  printer  to  se 
vere  public  censure,  if  not  to  the  action  of  a  grand  jury. 
Public  sentiment,  in  regard  to  the  newspaper  press,  has 
undergone  an  essential  revolution,  since  that  period. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Gov 
ernor  and  Council  of  Massachusetts,  concerning  a  para 
graph,  published  by  Fleet,  on  the  eighth  of  March, 
1741:  — 

At  a  Council,  held  at  the  Council  Chamber  in  Boston,  upon  Tuesday 
the  9th  day  of  March,  1741. 

Whereas  there  is  published  in  the  weekly  paper  called  the  Boston 
Evening  Post  of  yesterday's  date,  a  paragraph  in  the  following  words : 
"  Last  Saturday  Capt.  Gibbs  arrived  here  from  Madeira,  who  informs  us, 
that  before  he  left  that  Island,  Capt.  Dandridge,  in  one  of  His  Majes 
ty's  ships  of  forty  guns,  came  in  there  from  England,  and  gave  an 
account,  that  the  Parliament  had  called  for  all  the  Papers  relating  to 
the  War,  and  'twas  expected  the  Right  Hon.  Sir  Robert  Walpole 
would  be  taken  into  custody  in  a  very  few  days.  Capt.  Dandridge  was 
going  upon  the  Virginia  station  to  relieve  the  valiant  and  vigilant  Knight 
there,  almost  worn  out  in  the  sei-vice  of  his  country,  and  for  which  he 
has  a  chance  to  be  rewarded  with  a  Flay."  Which  paragraph  contains  a 
scandalous  and  libelous  Reflection  upon  his  Majesty's  Administration, 
and  may  tend  very  much  to  inflame  the  minds  of  his  Majesty's  subjects 
here  and  disaffect  them  to  his  Government ; 

Therefore,  Ordered,  That  the  Attorney- General  do,  as  soon  as  may 
be,  file  an  Information  against  Thomas  Fleet,  the  Publisher  of  the  said 
Paper,  in  his  Majesty's  Superior  Court  of  Judicature,  Court  of  Assize 
and  General  Gaol  Delivery,  in  order  to  his  being  prosecuted  for  his  said 
offence,  as  Law  and  Justice  requires.  W.  SHIKLEY. 

Copy  Examin'd,  per  J.  Willard,  Sec. 

How  this  affair  ended,  is  not  known.  Mr.  Thomas 
thinks  that  no  prosecution  took  place,  "  as  Fleet  pro 
cured  five  respectable  persons  to  testify  to  the  truth  of 
the  contents  of  the  paragraph." 


TIIOM.\S    FLEET.  131 

Several  of  the  Boston  newspapers  bad  been  printed 
for  postmasters,  and  very  little  printing  had  been  execut 
ed  by  printers  on  their  own  account.  To  these  cir 
cumstances  allusion  is  made  in  the  following  editorial  in 
the  Post,  No.  50  :  - 

We  have  lately  received  from  an  intelligent  and  worthy  friend  in  a 
neighboring  Government,  to  the  Southward  of  us,  the  following  re 
markable  Piece  of  News,  which  we  beg  our  Readers  Patience  to  hear, 
viz.  That  the  Printer  there  gets  a  great  deal  of  money,  has  Twenty 
Shillings  for  every  Advertisement  published  in  his  News-Paper,  calls  Us 
Fools  for  working  for  nothing,  and  has  lately  purchased  an  Estate  of 
Fourteen  Hundred  Pounds  Value.  We  should  be  heartily  glad  (had  we 
Cause  for  it)  to  return  our  Friend  a  like  surprizing  account  of  the 
Printers  Prosperity  here.  But  alas  !  the  reverse  of  our  Brother's  Cir 
cumstances  seems  hereditary  to  Us :  It  is  wrell  known  we  are  the  most 
humble,  self-denying  Set  of  Mortals  (we  wish  we  could  say  Men) 
breathing ;  for  where  there  is  a  Penny  to  be  got,  we  readily  resign  it  up 
to  those  who  are  no  Ways  related  to  the  Business,  nor  have  any  Pre 
tence  or  Claim  to  the  Advantages  of  it.  And  whoever  has  observ'd 
our  Conduct  hitherto,  has  Reason  enough  to  think,  that  we  hold  it  a 
mortal  Crime  to  make  any  other  Use  of  our  Brains  and  Hands  than 
barely  to  help  us 

To  purchase  homely  Fare,  and  fresh  small  Beer, 
(Hard  Fate  indeed,  we  can't  have  better  Cheer,) 
And  buy  a  new  Blue  Apron  once  a  Year. 

But  as  we  propose  in  a  short  Time  to  publish  a  Dissertation  upon  the 
mean  and  humble  state  of  the  Printers  of  this  Town,  we  shall  say  no 
more  at  present  upon  this  important  Subject,  and  humbly  ask  Pardon 
for  so  large  a  Digression.  Only  we  would  inform,  that  in  this  most 
necessary  Work  we  are  promised  the  Assistance  of  a  worthy  Friend 
and  able  Casuist,  who  says  he  doubts  not  but  that  he  shall  easily  make 
it  appear,  even  to  the  Satisfaction  of  the  Printers  themselves,  that  they 
may  be  as  good  Christians,  as  useful  Neighbors,  and  as  legal  Subjects, 
altho'  they  should  sometimes  feed  upon  Beef  and  Pudding,  as  they 
have  hitherto  approved  themselves  by  their  most  rigid  abstemious  way 
of  living. 

Here  are  some  of  Fleet's  advertisements  :  — 
To  be  sold  by  the  Printer  of  this  paper,  the  very  best  Negro  Woman 
in  this  Town,  who  has  had  the  small  pox  and  the  measles ;  is  as  hearty 
as  a  Horse,  as  brisk  as  a  Bird,  and  will  work  like  a  Beaver. 


132  BOSTON  EVENING  POST. 

To  be  sold  by  the  Printer  of  this  Paper,  a  Negro  man,  about  thirty 
years  old,  who  can  do  both  Town  and  Country  Business  very  well,  but 
will  suit  the  Country  best,  where  they  have  not  so  many  Dram  Shops 
as  we  have  in  Boston.  He  has  work'd  at  the  Printing  Business  fifteen 
or  sixteen  years ;  can  handle  Ax,  Saw,  Spade,  Hoe,  or  other  Instru 
ment  of  Husbandry  as  well  as  most  men,  and  values  himself,  and  is 
valued  by  others,  for  his  Skill  in  Cookery  and  making  of  Soap. 

\5~^  A  Certain  Person  in  this  Town  wants  to  buy  a  good  easy  and  gen 
tle  Horse,  that  will  go  in  a  Chaise.  Whoever  has  got  one  to  dispose  of 
is  desired  to  inform  the  Printer,  who  will  direct  him  to  a  chap. 

KF"  The  Subscribers  for  this  Paper,  (especially  those  at  a  Distance) 
who  are  shamefully  in  Arrear  for  it,  would  do  well  (methinks)  to  re 
member  those  Apostolical  Injunctions,  Eom.  xiii.  7,  8.  Render  therefore 
to  all  their  dues  ;  —  and  Owe  no  man  any  thing.  —  It  is  wonderful  to  ob 
serve,  that  while  we  hear  so  much  about  a  great  Revival  of  Religion  in 
the  Land ;  there  is  yet  so  little  Regard  had  to  Justice  and  Common  Hon 
esty  !  Surely  they  are  Abominable  Good  Works  ! 

In  the  Post  of  March  30,  1741,  a  correspondent  in 
formed  the  editor  that  on  the  preceding  evening  he  had 
the  curiosity  to  attend  the  lecture  of  Mr.  John  Pres 
byter,  [the  Rev.  John  Morehead.  pastor  of  the  Presby 
terian  Church,  in  Federal-street,]  where,  instead  of  the 
Gospel  of  peace  and  love,  he  heard  the  most  violent 
rant,  the  most  angry  and  ill-natured  invectives,  that  he 
had  ever  heard  in  his  life.  "  Mr.  Presbyter  was  ex 
pounding  the  second  chapter  of  Solomon's  Song,  and 
when  he  came  to  the  15th  verse,  —  'Take  us  the  foxes, 
the  little  foxes,  that  spoil  our  vines,'  &tc.  —  having 
worked  up  to  a  proper  temper  of  rage  and  fury,  he  fell 
foul  of  Wesley's  Sermon  on  Free  Grace,  [then  lately 
printed  by  Fleet,]  calling  it  a  bundle  of  the  vilest  here 
sies,  and  declaring  that  it  ought  to  be  burnt  by  the  com 
mon  hangman  ;  and  having  dismissed  the  author,  he 
bawled  against  the  printer,  in  a  most  hideous  manner, 
denouncing  the  judgements  of  God  against  him,  calling 


THOMAS    FLEET.  133 

him  a  mercenary  little  fox,  that  worked  for  hire ;  and 
last  of  all,  brought  in  the  poor  printing-press,  as  a  vile 
and  wicked  creature,  a  dangerous  engine,  a  sink  of  sedi 
tion,  error,  and  heresy,  and  advised  the  magistrates  to 
have  it  put  down,"  &,c.  To  this  Fleet  published  a 
reply,  that  filled  more  than  a  column  of  his  paper,  — 
rather  sarcastic  in  its  tone,  and  not  very  complimentary 
to  his  reverend  opponent.  "  For  my  part  (he  said)  as 
I  have  often  declared,  so  I  do  again  declare,  that  lam  of 
no  party,  but  act  purely  as  a  printer,  and  would  as  soon 
serve  one  side  as  the  other.  I  printed  Mr.  Wesley's 
Sermon,  not  because  I  liked  it,  but  because  several  gen 
tlemen  of  learning  and  good  sense  (who  I  think  have  as 
good  a  right  to  be  gratified  as  other  people)  desired  to 
have  it  printed,  and  I  had  a  prospect  of  getting  a  penny 
by  it,  as  I  have  by  all  that  I  print,  having  no  other  way 
to  support  my  family,  and  to  pay  what  the  Church  and 
State  expect  from  me  :  And  I  cannot  see  with  what 
front  Mr.  Presbyter  could  charge  my  working  for  hire  as 
a  crime,  when  I  never  yet  heard  that  he  served  his  peo 
ple  gratis.  .  .  .  Of  all  the  books  of  controversy,  that  I 
have  ever  read,  (and  I  have  read  some,)  I  never  met 
with  one  that  blamed  the  printers.  The  great  Dr.  Ed 
wards,  who,  for  his  knack  at  finding  fault,  might  have 
claimed  the  office  of  Accuser-General  of  all  Europe, 
and  made  as  free  with  authors  as  any  man  ever  did,  and 
for  aught  I  know,  has  censured  more  than  Mr.  Presbyter 
ever  read,  never,  that  I  can  find,  meddled  with  the 
printers  :  and  it  is  but  of  late,  that  some  weak  men 
have  thought  it  the  safest  and  easiest  way  to  answer 
books,  and  prejudice  people  against  authors  and  printers, 
to  whisper  against  them  in  chimney  corners,  or  declaim 
12 


134  BOSTON    EVENING    POST. 

in  more  public  and  exalted  places,  where  none  may  with 
safety  oppose  them,  or  speak  in  their  own  defence."  *  *  * 

After  much  more  in  a  similar  strain,  Fleet  closed  with 
a  "  P.  S.  I  am  just  now  told  that  Mr.  Presbyter's  rail 
ing  fit  is  not  gone  off  yet :  This  is  just  as  I  expected  : 
For,  as  I  know  the  man,  I'd  have  laid  five  pounds  to  a 
pipe  of  tobacco,  that  Nature  would  be  too  strong  for 
Prudence.  However,  I'll  own  I  was  mistaken  in  this  ; 
I  did  not  expect  he  would  have  profaned  any  part  of  the 
Sabbath  with  his  wild  and  uncharitable  rant,  as  he  did 
yesterday,  when  I  am  told  he  had  no  more  mercy  on  the 
poor  printers  than  a  sow  would  have  had  on  a  tailor.  O 
Monstrum  Horrendum !  to  use  a  barbarous  Latin  scrap 
of  his  own.  To  have  done,  I  advise  all  good  folks  that 
have  sore  heads  or  thin  skulls,  to  play  at  cudgels  as  little 
as  possible  ;  and  such  as  are  troubled  with  sore  shins,  to 
beware  of  a  foot-ball." 

The  ministers  and  the  printers  of  Boston  were  often 
engaged  in  disputes,  if  they  were  not  in  a  state  of  con 
tinual  warfare.  In  December,  1742,  Fleet  said,  —  "  We 
are  credibly  informed  that  an  eminent  minister  of  this 
town  has  lately  warned  his  people  against  reading  of 
pamphlets  and  newspapers,  wherein  are  contained  reli 
gious  controversies.  This  seems  a  bold  stroke,  and  a 
considerable  step  (if  the  advice  should  be  regarded) 
towards  that  state  of  ignorance,  in  which,  it  seems,  some 
folks  would  willingly  see  the  body  of  this  people  envel 
oped.  The  next  stroke  may  probably  be  at  the  Liberty 
of  the  Press.  And  what  a  fine  introduction  this  will  be 
to  Popery,  we  leave  our  readers  to  judge.  However, 
we  cannot  forbear  saying,  that  however  desirous  some 
men  may  be  of  having  the  sole  direction  of  our  con- 


THOMAS    FLEET.  135 

sciences,  and  that  we  should  believe  all  that  they  say, 
and  nothing  else,  yet  there  is  reason  to  suspect,  from 
the  squabbles  and  contentions  observable  among  them 
selves  at  this  day,  that  there  are  but  few  men  in  these 
parts  of  the  world,  whose  dictates  are  infallible. 
Here  is  one  of  his  humorous  editorials  :  — 

Last  Wednesday  was  published,  (in  a  half  sheet  in  octavo)  a  Paper, 
called  the  Boston  Weekly  Magazine,  containing  some  pieces  from  the 
Magazines  formerly  printed  in  London,  a  Poem  to  a  political  Lady,  an 
Ode  by  Mr.  Addison,  a  short  article  of  news  from  this  paper  and  an 
other  from  the  Post-Boy,  the  Boston  entries,  and  two  Advertisements. 
And,  on  Saturday,  another  Paper  made  its  appearance  among  us,  enti 
tled,  The  Christian  History ;  containing  (besides  the  Title  Page  and  a 
long  advertisement)  some  extracts  from  a  printed  pamphlet  just  arrived 
from  Scotland.  Both  Papers  are  designed  to  come  out  weekly.  The 
first  offers  Room  for  Disputes  on  both  sides,  (which  is  fair  enough,)  so 
that  our  Religious  Controversies  are  more  likely  to  increase  than  sub 
side.  The  last  seems  a  Party  Paper,  and  design'd  only  for  the  use  of 
special  Friends,  it  being  with  great  Difficulty  that  we  could  obtain  one, 
they  refusing  (for  some  Time)  to  sell  'em,  either  at  the  Printer's  or  at 
the  Publishing-office  but  on  Conditions  too  hard  to  be  complied  with  by 
many,  who  were  yet  desirous  to  see  the  Specimen. 

The  sudden  Appearance  of  these  two  Papers,  without  the  previous 
Proposals  for  Encouragement,  must  needs  be  very  mortifying  to  the 
Rev.  Gentleman,  who,  more  than  a  year  ago  published  Proposals  for 
printing  a  weekly  Casuistical  Paper,  but  has  not  yet  found  sufficient 
Encouragement  to  begin  it.  And,  as  we  are  now  favoured  with  a 
Paper  every  day,  except  Friday,  (which,  by  the  way,  is  said  to  be  a  very 
unlucky  Day  to  go  to  Sea,  make  Soap,  or  begin  any  other  important 
Business  on)  it  behoves  the  Gentleman  to  bestir  himself,  lest  some 
other  Person,  out  of  pure  Love  to  his  Country,  should  put  out  a  Paper  on 
that  Day,  and  thereby  he  be  utterly  excluded. 

The  appearance  of  the  Rev.  George  Whitefield  in 
Boston,  caused  a  great  "  stir  "  among  the  people.  The 
clergy  were  much  divided  in  their  opinions  regarding 
him.  Some  of  them  invited  him  to  their  pulpits  to  preach 
and  to  assist  in  the  administration  of  the  sacrament  of 
the  supper ;  while  others  endeavored  to  stay  the  pro- 


136  BOSTON    EVENING    POST. 

gress  of  an  enthusiasm,  that  seemed  to  threaten  the  over 
throw  of  some  of  the  established  congregational  churches. 
Fleet,  himself,  was  evidently  opposed  to  Whitefield,  and 
looked  upon  him  and  his  followers  as  enthusiasts  and 
bigots,  or  something  worse  ;  but  a  large  portion  of  the 
Evening  Post,  during  the  interval  between  Whitefield's 

O  '  O 

first  and  second  visits,  was  occupied  with  the  communi 
cations  of  those  who  chose  to  defend,  as  well  as  those 
who  opposed  him.  These  two  parties  ridiculed  and 
abused  each  other  without  remorse.  Whitefield's  second 
visit  to  Boston  was  in  1744.  He  was  attacked  and 
defended  not  only  in  the  newspapers,  but  in  pamphlets. 
The  Rev.  Thomas  Foxcraft,  senior  pastor  of  the  First 
Church  in  Boston,  wrote  and  published  a  labored 
"  Apology  in  Behalf  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield,"  &c. 
which  was  followed  by  a  number  of  very  severe  pieces 
in  reply  in  the  Evening  Post.  The  Rev.  William 
Hobby  of  Reading  published  "  A  Defence  of  the  Itine 
rancy  and  Conduct  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield,"  which 
subjected  him  to  numerous  attacks,  some  seriously  indig 
nant,  and  some  sarcastically  ludicrous.  Fleet  published 
and  advertised  for  sale,  "  A.  Sprig  of  Birch  fur  Billy's 
Breech  —  a  Letter  to  the  Rev.  William  'Hobby,  &c. 
'  Judgements  are  prepared  for  scorncrs,  and  stripes  for 
the  bach  of  fools.9  "  The  Rev.  Mr.  Gee  of  Boston, 
published  in  the  Boston  Gazette  an  account  of  a  con 
versation  he  had  held  with  Fleet  in  relation  to  something 
he  had  published  about  Whitefield.  Fleet  replied  in  his 
own  paper,  in  an  article  of  great  severity,  and  with  a 
boldness  which  showed  that  he  was  not  much  afraid  of 
his  spiritual  antagonist.  The  following  is  the  concluding 
paragraph  :  — 


THOMAS    FLEET.  137 

It  is  in  vain,  Sir.  for  men  to  call  upon  the  government  to  protect  their 
characters,  while  they  take  so  little  care  of  'em  themselves,  or  to  com 
plain  of  calumny  and  slander,  when  their  own  actions  are  the  greatest 
enemies  to  their  reputation ;  or  to  seek  sanctuary  in  the  ministerial 
office,  when  they  hardly  ever  discharge  any  part  of  the  ministerial  func 
tion.  Suffer  me,  therefore,  as  a  friend,  to  advise  you,  Sir,  .... 
to  study  to  be  quiet,  and  do  your  own  business,  and  in  every  thing  to  behave 
as  the  Gospel  requires  you  should ;  then  will  you  be  honored  and 
respected  by  all  men,  and  by  none  more  than  your  very  humble  servant, 

Thomas  Fleet. 

Two  letters  appeared  in  this  paper,  signed  "  Deborah 
Shearman,"  —  probably  written  by  Fleet,  — from  which 
the  following  paragraphs  are  extracts  :  — 

Dear  Mr.  Whitefield, 

For  since  there  are  so  many  folks  about  you, 

that  I  can't  come  to  talk  with  you,  I  must  write  to  you.  I  am  glad  you 
are  come  back ;  I  wanted  to  see  your  dear  self  again,  as  well  as  to  hear 
you  preach.  And  besides  I  wanted  you  to  come  to  stop  the  mouths  of 
the  Avicked  opposers,  who  say  you  were  glad  to  get  out  of  the  way,  that 
you  might  not  be  obliged  to  take  notice  of  the  two  wicked  letters  that 
were  published  about  you.  Dear  Sir,  do  own  you  an't  a  churchman, 
but  are  turned  dissenter,  and  then  all  the  long  letter  will  come  to  nothing. 
You  know,  Sir,  there  is  no  harm  in  changing,  when  a  body  sees  a  reason 
for  it.  You  must  do  something  about  it,  for  a  good  many  of  your 
friends  are  disturbed  at  it.  O  how  bold  have  the  opposers  been  since 
you  have  been  gone.  Almost  every  day  something  or  other  has  been 

printed  about  you Ay,  and  the  bold  creatures  no  longer 

conceal  themselves,  but  put  their  names  to  what  they  write.  Besides 
the  letter-learned  Rabbies  of  Cambridge,  (and  you  know  that  sort  of 
people  have  always  been  against  you  in  every  part  of  the  world,)  eight 
and  twenty  ministers  have  signed  a  paper  against  you.  Dear  Sir,  the 
Philistines  have  come  out  of  their  lurking-holes,  and  set  the  battle  in 

array  against  the  people  of  Israel What  names  have 

they  not  called  you  ?  .  .  .  .  Some  of  them  are  wicked  enough  to 
laugh  at  your  sermons,  and  say  you  told  us  with  much  gravity,  that 
Jacob's  ladder  had  got  two  ends  to  it.  Just  so  they  served  dear  Mr. 
Moorh — d ,  but  for  all  that  he  keeps  his  lectures  up  yet.  Ah,  dear  Sir, 

don't  mind  their  laughing Do,  dear  Sir,  let  us  have  a 

Journal  of  your  last  Journey,  for  I  long  to  know  what  passed  upon 
every  spot  of  ground,  where  dear  Mr.  "Whitefield  trod. 
#        #        *        #        #        * 

12* 


138  BOSTON    EVENING    POST. 

Welcome  once  more,  dear  Mr.  Whitefield.  It  is  quite  time  for  you 
to  come  back  again.  Your  cause  suffered  very  much  by  your  absence. 
We  have  had  fine  work  here  since  you  have  been  gone.  Next  time 

you  go  away,  do  leave  things  in  better  hands  than  Mr.  M d's,  to 

keep  up  your  morning  lectures,  and  Mr.  H by's  to  write  in  vindica 
tion  of  your  Itinerancy.  They  have  both  of  them  come  off  badly.  As 

to  Mr.  M d,  indeed,  Sir,  he  wo'n't  do.     It  is  not  worth  one's  while 

to  get  up  early  for  him.  He  talks  along  so  fluently  and  uses  so  many 
hard  words,  that  I  really  believe  he  is  a  very  learned  man ;  but  some 
thing  or  other  is  the  matter ;  when  meeting  is  done,  a  body  can't  tell 

one  word  he  has  been  saying.     Your  other  assistant,  poor  Mr.  H by, 

what  work  they  have  made  of  him  !  They  have  whipped  him  to  some 
tune.  They  call  it  only  a  twig,  but  it  falls  so  heavy,  that  I  should  take 
it  for  a  stick  as  thick  as  my  arm.  But  what  frets  one  the  most  is  that 
every  body  says  it  is  no  more  than  he  deserves.  I  had  like  to  have  for 
got  dear  Mr.  F. ;  he  has  done  all  he  could  for  you.  But  Heaven  grant 
he  may  write  no  more  Apologies.  I  am  sure  the  women  have  no  reason 
to  thank  him.  If  what  he  has  wrote  be  true,  there  is  no  safety  in  matri 
mony,  especially  for  Sailor's  wives.  Their  husbands  may  have  sweet 
hearts  at  every  port  they  go  to.  He  has  been  sadly  handled  by  a  man 
with  three  or  four  names. 

Dear  Mr.  Whitefield,  what  have  you  been  doing  ever  since  you  have 
been  gone  ?  0  why  won't  you  let  us  know !  What  spiritual  battles 
have  you  fought  ?  What  victories  have  you  won  ?  What  towns, 
churches,  and  pulpits  have  you  entered  triumphantly  against  opposers  1 
Ah,  Sir,  you  were  quite  wrong  in  leaving  off  your  Jour 
nals.  I  did  not  think  you  would  let  your  opposers  laugh  you  out  of 
any  thing.  For  want  of  leaving  us  something  to  read  and  talk  about, 
your  name  has  been  hardly  mentioned  except  among  a  few  choice 

friends,  any  more  than  if  you  had  never  been  in  the  country 

Ah,  Sir,  you  had  better  have  wrote  Journals,  and  talked  of  the  ministers 
as  you  used  to  do,  for  I  do  assure  you  one  great  reason  why  we  thought 
you  the  best  minister  in  the  world,  was  because  you  had  persuaded  us 
that  most  others  were  good  for  nothing.  Now  you  are  come  back,  I 
hope  you  will  set  all  to  rights.  O  how  tedious  have  been  the  hours  of 
your  absence  !  how  long  your  delay  !  how  dull  all  the  preaching  I  have 
heard ! 

Now  the  gentle  zephyrs  unbind  the  earth  from  winter's  icy  chains, 
the  fields  resume  their  cheerful  dress,  and  all  nature  begins  to  look 
lovely.  Now  you  need  not  regard  the  opposition  made  to  your  being 
admitted  into  pulpits.  To  no  purpose  are  they  shut  against  you,  while 
the  fields  are  open.  There  unconfined  by  walls,  you  may  make  your 


THOMAS    FLEET.  139 

charming  voice  roll  over  the  wide  extent,  while  prattling  Echo,  enamored 
with  it,  delights  to  repeat  it  from  every  rising  ground.  O  how  do  the 
sweet  sounds  enter  deep  into  our  hearts  !  how  do  they  soften  our  affec 
tions  and  make  us  all  tenderness !  Ah !  they  may  call  it  enthusiasm, 
they  may  call  it  quietism,  they  may  call  it  what  they  will.  They  that 
never  felt  it,  can't  tell  how  charming  it  is  to  be  lulled  into  such  a  sweet 

insensibility,  such  a  languid  indolence Come,  then,  dear 

Mr.  Whitefield,  come  away  into  the  fields.  Delay  not  our  joys  any 
longer.  That  I  mayn't  be  any  hindrance,  I  will  break  off  my  tattling, 
and  subscribe  once  more,  dear  Mr.  Whitefield,  your  humble  servant, 

Deb.  Shearman. 
Aprils,  1745. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Chauncey,  the  colleague  of  Mr.  Fox- 
croft,  wrote  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  Seasonable  Thoughts 
on  the  State  of  Religion  in  New-England,"  which, 
judging  from  the  notices  of  it  in  the  newspapers,  was 
intended  to  allay  the  ill  feelings  that  pervaded  the  com 
munity.  Some  one  addressed  to  him,  through  the  Even 
ing  Post,  a  poetical  epistle,  beginning,  — 

Rev.  Sir, 

While  you  are  boldly  set  in  Truth's  defence, 
And  true  religion  join  to  solid  sense, 
Pardon  a  Muse,  who,  with  her  infant  lays, 
Dares  to  offend,  by  lisping  in  your  praise  ; 
That  dares  to  interrupt  that  sacred  pen 
That  vindicates  the  laws  of  God  and  men  ; 
And  since  you  will  engage  in  Virtue's  cause, 
Learn  to  forgive,  and  bear  mankind's  applause. 

#=*=**## 

Go  on,  Sir;  still  Religion's  cause  maintain, 
Fear  not  the  weak  or  wicked  to  restrain ; 
No  wonder  such  your  steady  zeal  oppose, 
Since  Truth  and  Reason  are  their  greatest  foes. 
Go  on,  regardless,  Sir,  of  what  they  say, 
Your  part  is  still  to  pity  and  to  pray. 
Let  them  curse  on ;  with  bitter  censures  rail ; 
Such  angry  curses  never  can  prevail : 
Their  willful  ignorance  with  candor  view ; 
Where  there  are  Davids  there  '11  be  Shimeis  too. 

And  ending,  — 


140  BOSTON    EVENING    POST. 

May  you  possess  your  wonted  calm  of  mind, 
Your  universal  love  for  all  mankind ; 
May  godlike  charity  inspire  your  breast ; 
Still  may  you  entertain  that  heavenly  guest, 
Foretasting  the  delights  of  saints  above, 
Where  all  eternity  is  filled  with  love  ; 
That  so,  when  all  things  else  shall  fade  away, 
Your  sun  may  shine  with  everlasting  day. 
Many  shall  then  surround  the  throne  of  God, 
Arriving  there  in  paths  which  you  have  trod, 
Blessing  their  Savior  for  his  tender  care, 
In  lending  such  a  guide  to  lead  them  there. 

The  great  Comet  of  1744,  was  thus  noticed  by- 
Fleet  :  - 

The  Comet  now  rises  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  appears 
very  large  and  bright,  and,  of  late,  it  has  been  seen  with  its  lucid  train, 
in  the  day-time,  notwithstanding  the  lustre  of  the  Sun.  This  uncom 
mon  appearance  gives  much  uneasiness  to  timorous  people,  especially 
women,  who  will  needs  have  it  that  it  portends  some  dreadful  judge 
ments  to  this  our  land  :  And  if,  from  the  apprehension  of  deserved 
judgements,  we  should  be  induced  to  abate  of  our  present  pride,  extrav 
agance,  &c.  and  should  become  more  humble,  peaceable,  and  charita 
ble,  honest  and  just,  industrious  and  frugal,  there  will  be  reason  to  think 
that  the  Comet  is  the  most  profitable  Itinerant  Preacher,  and  friendly 
NEW  LIGHT,  that  has  yet  appeared  among  us. 

The  same  paper  contains  the  following  Poem,  stated 
to  have  been  published  the  week  before,  with  a  curious 
cut,  representing  the  Comet,  the  Sun,  &c.  and  to  be  sold 
by  the  booksellers,  price  four-pence :  — 

THE  COMET :  A  POEM. 

Descend,  Urania,  and  inspire  my  verse  ; 

I  raise  my  song  to  sing  your  kindred  stars  ; 

I  aim  to  rove  where  glittering  Comets  stray, 

Trace  the  bright  wanderers  through  the  ethereal  way. 

See,  heavenly  Muse,  view  with  attentive  eyes, 
The  ruddy  wonder  of  the  evening  skies ! 
From  star  to  star,  the  burning  ruin  rolls, 
Beams  through  the  ether,  and  alarms  the  poles. 
Around  the  earth  the  wondering  nations  gaze 
On  the  dire  terrors  of  the  lengthened  blaze, 


THOMAS    FLEET.  141 

While,  trailing  on.  they  dream  its  sparkling  hair 
Shakes  famine,  earthquake,  pestilence,  and  war : 
Illusions  vain  !  remote  from  human  things, 
Where  other  planets  roll  in  other  rings, 
It  travels  vast,  and  all  around  proclaims 
A  world  in  chaos,  or  an  earth  in  flames. 

So  through  the  ether  swept  the  ancient  earth, 
Ere  time,  and  forms,  and  beauty  first  had  birth  ; 
Unshaped  and  void,  through  space  immense  it  roamed, 
Till  spake  the  God,  —  and  Eden  instant  bloomed. 

What  ruin,  what  confusion  might  be  hurled, 
By  such  a  ball  upon  our  guilty  world  ! 
Witness,  ye  waves,  which  in  the  deluge  spread, 
Whelmed  o'er  the  earth,  and  stretched  the  nations  dead. 
Down  heaven's  high  steep,  wide-spread,  the  steaming  train 
Rushed  on  the  fields,  and  poured  the  floods  of  rain : 
The  dark  abyss,  attracted  into  day, 
Gushed  o'er  the  mountain  tops,  and  roared  away ; 
The  tossed  ark,  tottering,  through  its  fabric  shook, 
Involved  in  clouds  and  darkness,  foam  and  smoke, 
By  tempests  plunged  along  from  steep  to  steep, 
Bounds  to  the  clouds,  or  dashes  down  the  deep. 
Ye  angels  !  guard  her  through  the  stormy  scene, 
Till  the  gay  rainbow  arch  the  heavens  serene. 

But,  0  my  Muse  !  swift  must  the  time  come  on, 
When,  fresh  inspired,  and  fervid  from  the  sun, 
The  flagrant  stranger  shapes  a  different  path, 
And  from  its  annual  orbit  drags  the  earth. 
Ye  fancy,  mortals  !  distant  as  ye  are, 
All  calm  and  placid  round  the  sailing  star, 
In  gentle  rays  serenely  gleams  the  head, 
And  easy  lustre  through  the  train  is  spread  : 
Ah !  ye  perceive  not  what  loud  tumult  reigns 
Through  the  hot  regions  of  its  wild  domains  ; 
What  hideous  thunder  the  wild  ether  shocks, 
Of  tumbling  mountains,  and  of  crashing  rocks : 
Fierce  seas  of  flame  beat  round  the  burning  shores, 
And  every  tempest  raves,  and  every  furnace  roars. 
To  this  devoted  earth  it  marches  on, 
And  midnight  blazes  with  the  glare  of  noon  : 
Big  and  more  big,  it  arches  all  the  air, 
A  vault  of  fluid  brass  the  skies  appear, 


142  BOSTON    EVENING    TOST. 

From  their  foundations  where  they  ancient  stood, 
Down  rush  the  mountains  in  a  flaming  flood  : 
The  minerals  pour  their  melted  bowels  out, 
The  rocks  run  down,  the  flying  rivers  spout ; 
The  earth  dissolves  through  its  disjointed  frame, 
Its  clouds  all  lighten,  and  its  vEtnas  flame  : 
The  sea  exhales,  and  in  long  volumes  hurled, 
Follows  the  wandering  globe  from  world  to  world  ; 
Now  at  the  sun  it  glows,  now  steers  its  flight 
Through  the  cold  deserts  of  eternal  night, 
Warns  every  creature  through  its  trackless  road, 
The  fate  of  sinners  and  the  wrath  of  GOD. 

No  wonder  that  "  timorous  people,  and  especially 
women/'  were  frightened  out  of  their  wits,  if  they  read 
much  of  such  sublime  nonsense  as  this  poem. 

In  1748,  during  the  war  between  England  and  Spain, 
a  Spanish  ship,  captured  by  an  English  cruiser,  was  sent 
into  Boston.  Among  other  articles  in  the  captured 
vessel,  were  several  bales  of  Bulls  or  Indulgencies,  issued 
by  the  Pope,  and  printed  on  one  side  of  a  small  sheet. 
Fleet  purchased  a  large  quantity  of  them  at  a  low  price, 
and  printed  songs  and  ballads  on  the  back  of  them.  In 
the  Evening  Post  he  advertised  them,  as  follows  :  — • 
"  Choice  Pennsylvania  Tobacco  Paper  to  be  sold  by  the 
Publisher  of  this  Paper,  at  the  Heart  and  Crown  ;  where 
may  also  be  had  the  BULLS  or  Indulgencies  of  the 
present  Pope  Urban  VIII.  either  by  the  single  Bull, 
Quire,  or  Ream,  at  a  much  cheaper  Rate  than  they  can 
be  purchased  of  the  French  or  Spanish  Priests,  and  yet 
will  be  warranted  to  be  of  the  same  Advantage  to  the 
Possessors." 

THOMAS  FLEET,  the  proprietor  and  editor  of  the 
Evening  Post,  died  on  the  twenty-first  of  July,  1758, 
having  nearly  completed  seventy-three  years  of  age. 


THOMAS    FLEET.  143 

He  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Fleet,  of  Tillstock,  in  the 
county  of  Shropshire,  England,  and  was  born  in  that 
place,  on  the  eighth  of  September,  1685.  He  served 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  printing  business  at  Bristol,  and 
worked  as  a  journeyman  in  that  place.  While  he  was 
employed  there  in  that  capacity,  the  notorious  Dr. 
Sacheverell  passed  through  Bristol,  on  his  "  tour  of  tri 
umph,"  after  having  undergone  his  sentence  of  suspen 
sion  from  the  performance  of  his  clerical  functions.  The 
Doctor  was  carried  in  the  procession  on  men's  shoulders, 
amidst  the  waving  of  flags,  the  display  of  handkerchiefs, 
and  the  shouts  and  huzzas  of  the  populace.  As  the 
procession  approached  the  house  where  Fleet  was  at 
work,  he,  (though  he  felt  no  interest  in  the  affair,)  in 
mere  sport,  hung  a  halter  on  a  pole  and  waved  it  from  a 
window.  This  was  considered  as  a  signal  of  contempt, 
and  caused  an  attack  on  the  house.  Stones  and  other 
missiles  were  hurled  at  the  windows  ;  the  doors  were 
broken  in,  and  search  was  made  for  the  offender,  —  who, 
in  the  mean  time,  had  gone  to  the  top  of  the  house,  and 
passing  from  the  roof  of  one  house  to  another,  at  length 
descended  into  an  unfrequented  street,  and  made  his 
escape.  He  absented  himself  for  some  time.  Supposing 
that  his  offence  might  be  forgotten,  he  returned  to  his 
employment,  but  found  that  he  was  still  likely  to  get 
into  trouble.  He  thought  that  his  personal  safety  re 
quired  that  he  should  emigrate  ;  and,  accordingly,  he 
went  on  board  a  vessel  bound  to  America,  and  landed 
in  Boston,  in  1712. 

Soon  after  his  arrival,  Fleet  opened  a  printing-house 
in  Pudding-lane,  (now  Devonshire-street,)  and  carried 
on  the  printing  of  ballads,  pamphlets,  and  small  books 


144  BOSTON    EVENING    POST. 

for  children.  He  was  industrious  and  frugal,  and 
acquired  property.  In  1731,  he  rented  a  new  brick 
building,  on  the  northerly  corner  of  Water-street  and 
Cornhill,  (now  Washington-street,)  which  he  afterwards 
purchased,  and  in  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  The  price  he  paid  for  this  estate  was  about 
$2200  !  The  house  was  spacious,  and  afforded  rooms 
sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  his  family,  and  for 
the  transaction  of  his  business.  V  To  his  occupation  as  a 
printer  and  bookseller,  he  added  that  of  an  auctioneer, 

—  of  which  he  gave  notice  in  the  News-Letter  of  March 
7,  1731,  as  follows:  — 

This  is  to  give  Notice  to  all  Gentlemen,  Merchants,  Shopkeepers  and 
others,  that  Thomas  Fleet  of  Boston,  Printer,  (who  formerly  kept  his 
Printing  House  in  Pudding  Lane  but  is  now  removed  into  Cornhill  at 
the  sign  of  the  Heart  fr  Crown,  near  the  lower  end  of  School  Street)  is 
willing  to  undertake  the  Sale  of  Books,  Household  Goods,  Wearing 
Apparel,  or  any  other  Merchandize,  by  Vendue,  or  Auction.  /.The  said 
Fleet  having  a  large  &  commodious  Front  Chamber  tit  for  this  Business, 
and  a  Talent  well  known  and  approved,  doubts  not  of  giving  entire 
Satisfaction  to  such  as  may  employ  him  in  it;  he  hereby  engaging  to 
make  it  appear  that  this  Service  may  be  performed  with  more  Conven 
ience  and  less  Charge  at  a  private  House  well  situated,  than  at  a  Tav 
ern.  And  for  farther  Encouragement,  said  Fleet  promises  to  make  up 
Accompts  with  the  Owners  of  the  Goods  Sold  by  him,  in  a  few  Days 
after  the  sale  thereof. 

The  following  anecdote,  —  related  by  Mr.  Thomas, 

—  if  true,   proves  that  Fleet   would   not   lose   a  joke, 
though  he  might  enjoy  it  at  the  expense  of  the  feelings 
of   others  :  — "  The    members    of   his    family,    though 
worthy  and  good  people,  were  not  remarkable  for  per 
sonal  beauty,  and  he  sometimes  indulged  in  a  joke  at 
their  expense.     He  once  invited  a  friend  to  dine  with 
him  on  Pouts,  —  a  kind  of  fish,  of  which  he  knew  the 
gentleman    was   remarkably    fond.     When    the    dinner 


THOMAS    AND    JOHN    FLEET. 


145 


appeared,  the  guest  remarked  that  the  Pouts  were  want 
ing.  "  O  no,  (said  Fleet,)  only  look  at  my  wife  and 
daughters  ! "  * 

On  the  death  of  Fleet,  he  was  succeeded  by  his  sons 
Thomas  and  John,  who  had  learned  the  printing  business 
of  him.  They  formed  a  partnership,  which  continued 
till  the  death  of  Thomas,  in  March,  1797.  They  were 
born  in  Boston,  and  received  a  common  school  educa 
tion.  They  were  skillful  and  correct  printers,  and  were 
much  respected  as  good  citizens,  and  men  of  integrity 
and  punctuality  in  all  their  dealings. 

On  assuming  the  proprietorship  of  the  Evening  Post, 
T.  &  J.  Fleet  introduced  at  the  head  a  cut  representing 
the  sign,  which  their  father  had  placed  over  his  door :  f 


*  At  his  death,  Fleet  left  a  widow,  three  sons,  and  two  daughters.  One  son  and 
the  daughters  were  never  married.  The  first  son,  William,  was  a  sea-captain  and 
merchant,  and  died  in  1787,  leaving  children  ;  —  one  of  whom  was  married  to 
Andrew  Oliver,  a  hatter,  of  Boston.  She  was  the  mother  of  William  Oliver,  late 
of  Dorchester,  merchant,  who  left  all  his  property,  —  more  than  $  110,000,  —  after 
the  death  of  two  sisters,  to  the  Asylum  for  the  Blind  and  the  Massachusetts  Gen 
eral  Hospital. 

fThis  cut  remained  at  the  head  of  the  paper  till  the  publication  was  discontinued 
in  April,  1775.  The  sign  was  afterwards  changed  to  the  Bible  and  Heart: — a  sign 
well  remembered  by  many  persons  now  living. 

VOL.    I.  13 


146  BOSTON    EVENING    POST. 

The  paper  was  conducted  on  the  principles  established 
by  the  father  ;  and  through  the  exciting  period,  in  which 
it  was  in  possession  of  the  sons,  maintained  its  character 
as  an  independent  journal.  The  political  communica 
tions  were  numerous,  and  both  Whigs  and  Tories  seemed 
privileged  to  lash  each  other  in  its  columns.  The  Tories 
took  advantage  of  the  privilege  to  abuse  the  writers  in 
Edes  and  Gill's  Boston  Gazette,  to  an  extent  that  was 
hardly  to  have  been  expected,  if  the  Fleets  were  in  full 
communion  with  the  Whig  party.  There  is,  however, 
no  partiality  to  the  Tories  discoverable  in  their  editorial 
notices  of  the  stirring  incidents  that  marked  the  few 
years  immediately  preceding  the  Revolution. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Post,  August  22,  1768,  says 
the  following  song  was  much  in  vogue,  and  was  heard 
resounding  in  almost  all  companies  in  town,  and  by  way 
of  eminence  was  called  "The  LIBERTY  SONG."  He 
requests  its  publication,  "  for  the  benefit  of  the  whole 
continent  of  America  :  "  —  * 

To  the  Tune  of  Hearts  of  Oak. 

Come  join  hand  in  hand,  brave  Americans  all, 
And  rouse  your  bold  hearts  at  fair  Liberty's  call ; 
No  tyrannous  acts  shall  suppress  your  just  claim, 
Or  stain  with  dishonor  America's  name. 
In  Freedom  we  're  born,  and  in  Freedom  we  '11  live ; 
Our  purses  are  ready, 
Steady,  Friends,  steady, 
Not  as  Slaves,  but  as  Freemen,  our  money  we  '11  give. 

Our  worthy  Forefathers  —  let 's  give  them  a  cheer  — 
To  climates  unknown  did  courageously  steer ; 


*  This  song  was  written  by  John  Dickinson,  of  Pennsylvania,  the  author  of  the 
celebrated  Farmer's  Letters.  It  was  first  published  in  the  Boston  Gazette,  July  18, 
1768.  See  Tudor's  Life  of  James  Otis,  p.  322,  and  Appendix,  p.  501. 


THOMAS    AND    JOHN    FLEET.  147 

Through  oceans  to  deserts  for  Freedom  they  came, 
And,  dying,  bequeathed  us  their  freedom  and  fame : 
In  Freedom  we  're  born,  &c. 

Their  generous  bosoms  all  dangers  despised, 
So  highly,  so  wisely,  their  birthrights  they  prized  ; 
We  '11  keep  what  they  gave  —  we  will  piously  keep, 
Nor  frustrate  their  toils  on  the  land  or  the  deep. 
In  Freedom  we  're  born,  £c. 

The  Tree  their  own  hands  had  to  Liberty  reared 
They  lived  to  behold  growing  strong  and  revered ; 
With  transport  they  cried,  —  "  Now  our  wishes  we  gain, 
For  our  children  shall  gather  the  fruits  of  our  pain." 
In  Freedom  we  're  born,  &c. 

Swarms  of  placemen  and  pensioners  soon  will  appear, 
Like  locusts  deforming  the  charms  of  the  year ; 
Suns  vainly  will  rise,  showers  vainly  descend, 
If  we  are  to  drudge  for  what  others  will  spend. 
In  Freedom  we  're  born,  &c. 

Then  join  hand  in  hand,  brave  Americans  all ; 
By  uniting  we  stand,  by  dividing  we  fall ; 
In  so  righteous  a  cause  let  us  hope  to  succeed, 
For  Heaven  approves  of  each  generous  deed. 
In  Freedom  we  're  born,  £c. 

All  ages  shall  speak,  with  amaze  and  applause, 
Of  the  courage  we  '11  show  in  support  of  our  laws  ; 
To  DIE  we  can  bear  —  but  to  SERVE  we  disdain, 
For  shame  is  to  Freemen  more  dreadful  than  pain. 
In  Freedom  we  're  born,  &c. 

This  bumper  I  crown  for  our  Sovereign's  health, 
And  this  for  Britannia's  glory  and  wealth  ; 
That  wealth  and  that  glory  immortal  may  be, 
If  she  is  but  just,  and  we  are  but  free. 
In  Freedom  we  're  born,  &c. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  publication  of  this  Song,  the 
following  Parody  appeared  in  the  Post  —  but  whether 
inserted  by  request  of  those,  who  approved  its  temper 
and  style,  or  to  expose  that  temper  to  the  indignation  of 
the  Whigs,  does  not  appear. 


148  BOSTON    EVENING    POST. 

A  PARODY 

Upon  a  well-known  LIBERTY  SONG. 

[Said  to  be  in  great  vogue  at  a  certain  Fortress,  where  it  was  composed.]* 
Come  shake  your  dull  noddles,  ye  Pumpkins,  and  bawl, 
And  own  that  you're  mad  at  fair  Liberty's  call ; 
No  scandalous  conduct  can  add  to  your  shame, 
Condemned  to  dishonor,  inherit  the  fame. 

In  Folly  you're  born,  and  in  Folly  you'll  live, 
To  madness  still  ready, 
And  stupidly  steady, 

Not  as  men,  but  as  monkeys,  the  tokens  you  give. 
Your  grandsire,  Old  Satan,  now  give  him  a  cheer, 
Would  act  like  yourselves,  and  as  wildly  would  steer ; 
So  great  an  example  in  prospect  still  keep, 
Whilst  you  are  alive,  Old  Belza  may  sleep. 

In  Folly  you're  born,  &c. 
Such  villains,  such  rascals  all  dangers  despise, 
And  stick  not  at  mobbing  when  mischief's  the  prize; 
They  burst  through  all  barriers,  and  piously  keep 
Such  chattels  and  goods  the  vile  rascals  can  sweep. 

In  Folly  you're  born,  &c. 

The  Tree,  which  the  wisdom  of  Justice  hath  reared, 
Should  be  stout  for  their  use,  and  by  no  means  be  spared ; 
When  fuddled  with  rum  the  mad  sots  to  restrain, 
Sure  Tyburn  will  sober  the  wretches  again. 

In  Folly  you're  born,  &c. 

Your  brats  and  your  hunters  by  no  means  forget, 
But  feather  your  nests,  for  they're  bare  enough  yet ; 

*  This  Parody  was  also  published  in  the  Boston  Gazette,  Sept.  26,  1768,  —  intro 
duced  by  the  following  notice: — Last  Tuesday,  the  following  Song  made  its 
appearance  from  a  garret  at  Castle  W m."  Immediately  following  it  is  the 

following  Letter : 

Castle  William,  Boston  Harbor,  Sept.  25,  1768. 
Messieurs  Edes  &  Gill, 

Having  been  told  that  you  intended  to  publish  a  Song  in  your  Newspaper,  called 
a  Parody  on  the  Song  of  Liberty,  under  my  name  as  the  Author  of  it,  I  think 
proper  to  forewarn  you  from  publishing  such  a  falsity,  or  any  other  thing  under 
my  name,  without  my  authority  j  and  if  you  persist  in  doing  it  in  this,  or  any 
other  instance,  it  shall  be  at  your  peril.  I  am,  Your  humble  Serv't, 

HEN.  HUTTON. 

The  editors  add  in  a  note  —  As  we  have  never  published  any  thing,  and  never 
intend  to,  under  the  name,  much  less  under  the  AUTHORITY  of  Mr.  Hutton,  we 
should  have  been  glad,  if  he  had  explained  his  idea  of  the  word  persist. 


THOMAS  AND  JOHN  FLEET.  149 

From  the  insolent  rich  sure  the  poor  knave  may  steal, 
Who  ne'er  in  his  life  knew  the  scent  of  a  meal. 

In  Folly  you're  born,  &c. 

When  in  your  own  cellars  you've  quaffed  a  regale, 
Then  drive,  tug  and  stink,  the  next  house  to  assail ; 
For  short  is  your  harvest,  nor  long  shall  you  know, 
The  pleasure  of  reaping  what  other  men  sow. 

In  Folly  you're  born,  £c. 

Then  plunder,  my  lads,  for  when  red  coats  appear, 
You'll  melt,  like  the  locust  when  winter  is  near ; 
Gold  vainly  will  glow,  Silver  vainly  will  shine, 
But,  faith,  you  must  skulk,  you  no  more  shall  purloin. 

In  Folly  you're  born,  &c. 

Then  nod  your  poor  numskulls,  ye  Pumpkins,  and  bawl, 
The  De'il  take  such  rascals,  fools,  whoresons,  and  all ; 
Your  cursed  old  trade  of  purloining  must  cease, 
The  dread  and  the  curse  of  all  order  and  peace. 

In  Folly  you're  born,  &c. 
All  ages  shall  speak  with  contempt  and  amaze, 
Of  the  vilest  banditti  that  swarmed  in  these  days  j 
In  defiance  of  halters,  of  whips,  and  of  chains, 
The  rogues  would  run  riot,  — fools  for  their  pains. 

In  Folly  you're  born,  &c. 

Gulp  down  your  last  dram,  for  the  gallows  now  groans, 
And  over  depressed  her  lost  empire  bemoans  ; 
While  we  quite  transported  and  happy  shall  be, 
From  mobs,  knaves,  and  villains,  protected  and  free. 

In  Folly  you're  born,  £c. 

The  Post  of  the  next  week  contained 

THE  PARODY  PARODIZED. 
Or  the  MASSACHUSETTS  LIBERTY  SONG. 

Come  swallow  your  bumpers,  ye  Tories !  and  roar, 
That  the  Sons  of  fair  Freedom  are  hampered  once  more  ; 
But  know,  no  such  furies  our  spirits  can  tame, 
Nor  a  host  of  oppressors  shall  smother  the  flame. 
In  Freedom  we're  born,  and,  like  sons  of  the  brave, 
Will  never  surrender, 
But  swear  to  defend  her, 
And  scorn  to  survive,  if  unable  to  save. 
13* 


150  BOSTON    EVENING    POST. 

Our  grandsires,  West  heroes !  we'll  give  them  a  tear, 

Nor  sully  their  honors  by  stooping  to  fear; 

Through  deaths  and  through  dangers  their  trophies  they  won ; 

We  dare  be  their  rivals,  nor  will  be  outdone. 

In  Freedom,  &c. 

Let  tyrants  and  minions  presume  to  despise, 
Encroach  on  our  rights,  and  make  Freedom  their  prize, 
The  fruits  of  their  rapine  they  never  shall  keep ; 
Though  vengeance  may  nod,  yet  how  short  is  her  sleep ! 

In  Freedom,  &c. 

The  Tree,  which  proud  Haman  for  Mordecai  reared, 
Stands  recorded,  that  Virtue  endangered  is  spared; 
That  rogues  whom  no  bands  and  no  laws  can  restrain, 
Must  be  stript  of  their  honors,  and  humbled  again. 

In  Freedom,  &c. 

Our  wives  and  our  babes,  still  protected,  shall  know, 
Those  who  dare  to  be  free,  shall  forever  be  so ; 
On  these  arms  and  these  breasts  they  may  safely  rely, 
For  in  Freedom  we'll  live,  or  like  heroes  we'll  die, 

In  Freedom,  &c. 

Ye  insolent  tyrants  !  who  wish  to  enthrall, 
Ye  minions,  ye  placemen,  pimps,  pensioners,  all ; 
How  short  is  your  triumph !  how  feeble  your  trust ! 
Your  honors  must  wither,  and  nod  to  the  dust. 

In  Freedom,  &c. 

When  oppressed  and  reproached,  our  King  we  implore, 
Still  firmly  persuaded  our  rights  he'll  restore ; 
When  our  hearts  beat  to  arms  to  defend  a  just  right, 
Our  monarch  rules  there,  and  forbids  us  to  fight. 

In  Freedom,  &c. 

Not  the  glitter  of  arms,  nor  the  dread  of  a  fray, 
Could  make  us  submit  to  their  chains  for  a  day ; 
Withheld  by  affection,  on  Britons  we  call,  — 
Prevent  the  fierce  conflict  which  threatens  your  fall. 

In  Freedom,  &c. 

All  ages  shall  speak  with  amaze  and  applause, 
On  the  prudence  we  show  in  support  of  our  cause ; 
Assured  of  our  safety,  a  Brunswick  still  reigns, 
Whose  free  loyal  subjects  are  strangers  to  chains. 

In  Freedom,  &c. 


THOMAS    AND    JOHN    FLEET.  151 

Then  join  hand  in  hand,  brave  Americans  all ! 
To  be  free  is  to  live ;  to  be  slaves  is  to  fall ; 
Has  the  land  such  a  dastard,  as  scorns  not  a  lord, 
Who  dreads  not  a  fetter  much  more  than  a  sword  ! 
In  Freedom  we're  born,  and,  like  sons  of  the  brave, 
Will  never  surrender, 
But  swear  to  defend  her, 
And  scorn  to  survive  if  unable  to  save. 

The  practice  of  publishing  for  writers  on  both  sides  of 
the  great  question  which  then  agitated  the  whole  country, 
was  persisted  in,  but  evidently  created  dissatisfaction 
among  the  Whigs.  In  the  paper  of  the  I  Oth  of  March, 
1775,  the  following  notice  was  published  :  — 

Whereas  it  hath  been  hinted  in  several  letters  lately  received  from 
England,  that  one  or  more  printers  of  the  public  newspapers  in  the 
principal  towns  in  America  are  hired,  or  rather  bribed,  (from  a  fund  said 
to  be  established  for  that  use)  for  the  vile  purpose  of  publishing  pieces 
in  their  respective  papers  tending  to  favor  despotism  and  the  present 
arbitrary  and  tyrannical  proceedings  of  the  ministry  relative  to  Amer 
ica  ;  The  publishers  of  the  Boston  Evening  Post  (whose  papers  have 
always  been  conducted  with  the  utmost  freedom  and  impartiality)  do, 
for  themselves,  thus  publicly  declare,  that  no  application  has  ever  been 
made  to  them  to  prostitute  their  paper  to  such  abase  and  mean  purpose ; 
and  should  they  hereafter  be  applied  to  for  that  design,  they  shall 
despise  the  offer  and  those  who  make  it,  with  the  greatest  contempt ; 
not  but  that  their  paper  shall,  as  usual,  be  open  for  the  insertion  of  all 
pieces  that  shall  tend  to  amuse  or  instruct,  or  to  the  promoting  of  useful 
knowledge  and  the  general  good  of  mankind,  as  they  themselves  (who 
are  the  sole  directors  and  proprietors  thereof)  shall  think  prudent, 
profitable,  or  entertaining  to  their  numerous  readers. 

This  proclamation  of  neutrality  was  unavailing,  but 
tended  to  increase  rather  than  diminish  the  discontent  of 
the  public.  In  a  few  weeks  after,  viz.  on  the  24th 
of  April,  the  Post  contained  the  following  notice  :  — 
"  The  Printers  of  the  Boston  Evening  Post  hereby  in 
form  the  Town  that  they  shall  desist  publishing  the 
papers  after  this  day,  till  matters  are  in  a  more  settled 


152  BOSTON    EVENING    POST. 

state."     Just  preceding  this  notice  is  the  following  para 
graph  :  — 

The  unlucky  transactions  of  the  last  week  are  so  variously  related, 
that  we  shall  not  at  present  undertake  to  give  any  particular  account 
thereof. 

The  "  unlucky  transactions  "  here  alluded  to,  it  will 
be  perceived,  were  the  battles  at  Lexington  and  Con 
cord.  With  that  declaration  the  publication  of  the  Post 
was  suspended  and  never  revived. 

THOMAS  FLEET,  the  second  of  the  name,  and  the 
senior  partner  in  the  house  of  T.  &.  J.  Fleet,  was  born 
April  10,  1732,  and  died,  single,  March  16,  1797,  aged 
65  years.  JOHN,  the  other  partner,  was  born  September 
25,  1734,  and  died  March  6,  1806,  aged  71|  years.* 
He  had  a  son,  Thomas,  who  was  a  printer,  and  con 
nected  in  the  business  with  his  father,  but  gave  it  up 
soon  after  his  father  died.  He  died  a  bachelor,  in  1827, 
about  59  years  of  age.  These  Fleets,  —  father,  sons, 
and  grandson,  —  conducted  the  printing  business,  through 
a  period  of  seventy-five  years,  in  the  building  before 
mentioned,  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Water- 
streets.  The  estate  is  still  in  possession  of  the  heirs. 

When  they  discontinued  the  publication  of  the  Eve 
ning  Post,  the  Fleets  pursued  their  business  of  printing 
in  all  other  respects,  and  executed  a  large  share  of  the 
job  work  of  the  town.  At  one  time  they  did  all  the 
printing  required  for  the  General  Court,  and  County  and 
Town  officers,  and  acquired  what  was  considered  a 

*This  John  Fleet  had  also  a  son  John,  who  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  1786,  —  was  a  respectable  physician  in  Boston,  and  died  unmarried,  in  Janu 
ary  1813,  aged  47.  He  had  also  three  daughters,  two  of  whom  were  married  to 
Ephraim  Eliot,  —  long  known  as  a  respectable  apothecary  in  Hanover-street:  — 
the  other,  born  April  5,  1772,  is  still  (1850)  living,  enjoying,  as  many  of  the  Fleet 
family  had  before  enjoyed,  an  old  age  of  unblessed  celibacy. 


THOMAS    AND    JOHN    FLEET.  153 

handsome  property.  They  were  also  employed  to  print 
most  of  the  valuable  works,  which  were  published  dur 
ing  the  War,  and  a  few  years  that  immediately  suc 
ceeded  it.  The  first  edition  of  Hutchinson's  History  of 
Massachusetts  was  printed  at  their  press.  In  1779, 
they  published  the  first  number  of  the  "  Pocket  Alma 
nack  and  Fleet's  Annual  Register,"  which  was  con 
tinued  annually,  and  met  with  extensive  sales,  till  the 
year  1801,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Manning 
&  Loring  and  John  West. 

Soon  after  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British 
troops,  the  Fleets  removed  the  sign  of  the  "  Crown  and 
Heart,"  which  had  been  erected  by  their  father,  and  put 
in  its  place  the  "  Bible  and  Heart ;  "  and  this  remained 
on  the  building,  till  the  final  relinquishment  of  their 
business,  and  the  removal  of  the  family,  in  1808.  Many 
persons  expressed  a  desire  that  it  should  be  preserved, 
but  it  was  found  to  be  much  weather-beaten  and  de 
cayed,  and  fell  to  pieces  in  the  hands  of  the  workmen 
who  removed  it. 


THE  BOSTON  WEEKLY  POST-BOY. 


THE  first  number  of  this  paper  was  issued  in  October, 
1734,  by  Ellis  Huske,  who  had  just  been  appointed  post 
master  of  Boston.  No  printer's  name  appeared  in  the 
imprint,  during  its  whole  existence,  which  was  about 
twenty  years.  The  latest  number  that  is  preserved  in 
the  Historical  Library,  was  published  in  December, 
1754,  in  which  there  is  no  notice  of  any  intended  dis 
continuance.  Mr.  Thomas  thinks  the  publication  was 
continued  till  some  time  in  1755.  The  character  of 
this  paper  did  not  differ  essentially  from  that  of  its  pre 
decessors,  —  the  News-Letter  and  the  Gazette.  It  was 
simply  a  weekly  issue  of  extracts  from  English  papers, 
and  a  few  articles  of  intelligence,  concerning  trade  and 
navigation,  and  a  brief  notice  of  the  common  occurrences 
of  the  week.  It  does  not  appear  that  Huske  became 


ELLIS    HUSKE.  155 

involved  in  any  controversy  with  his  cotemporaries  of 
the  press,  or  in  any  exciting  disputes  that  might  have 
existed  in  regard  to  matters  of  public  interest.  The 
paper  has  no  pretension  to  a  literary  character,  and  had 
rarely  a  contribution  from  a  correspondent. 

In  relation  to  the  personal  history  of  Huske,  I  have 
not  been  able  to  discover  any  thing  more  than  what  is 
stated  by  Mr.  Thomas.  "  He  was  afterward  appointed 
deputy-postmaster-general  for  the  Colonies.  He  had  a 
son,  bred  a  merchant  in  Boston,  who  was  afterward  a 
member  of  the  British  Parliament.  He  was  superseded 
in  the  department  of  the  post-office  by  Franklin  and 
Hunter." 

The  devices  at  the  head  of  this  paper  were  the  same 
as  those  used  in  the  first  Boston  Gazette,  viz.  the  Ship 
on  the  left  of  the  title,  and  the  Post-Boy  on  the  right. 
The  Post-Boy  was  also  used  by  Green  &  Russell,  when 
they  began  the  Weekly  Advertiser. 


THE  INDEPENDENT  ADVERTISER. 


THE  first  number  of  this  paper  was  published  in  Bos 
ton,  January  4,  1748,  by  Rogers  &  Fowle.  It  was 
printed  on  a  half-sheet  of  crown  size,  two  pages  folio  ;  — 
the  head  embellished  with  a  cut,  the  device  of  which 
Mr.  Thomas  thus  explains  :  —  "  Britannia  liberating  a 
bird,  confined  by  a  cord  to  the  arms  of  France.  Bri 
tannia  is  represented  sitting  ;  the  arms  of  France  lying  on 
the  ground  before  her  ;  the  bird  is  on  the  wing,  but 
being  impeded  by  the  cord,  one  end  of  which  is  fastened 
to  the  arms  of  France  and  the  other  to  the  bird,  Bri 
tannia  is  in  the  act  of  cutting  the  cord  with  a  pair  of 
shears,  that  the  bird  may  escape." 

The  opening  address  it  will  be  seen,  is  written  in  a 
better  style,  than  had  been  usual  in  that  department  of 
the  newspaper  press :  — 


ROGERS    AND    FOWLE.  157 

The  PUBLISHERS  to  the  READERS. 
GENTLEMEN. 

Upon  the  encouragement  we  have  already  received,  and  agreeable  to 
our  printed  proposals,  The  Independent  Advertiser  now  makes  its  en 
trance  into  the  world,  and  as  it  will  doubtless  be  expected  upon  its  first 
appearance  that  we  should  more  fully  explain  our  design  and  show 
what  the  public  may  expect  from  it,  we  would  accordingly  observe,  That 
we  shall  by  no  means  endeavor  to  recommend  this  our  paper  by  depre 
ciating  the  merit  of  other  performances  of  the  same  kind,  neither  would 
we  flatter  the  expectations  of  the  Public  by  any  pompous  promises 
which  we  may  not  be  likely  to  fulfil ;  but  this  our  Headers  may  depend 
upon ;  that  we  shall  take  the  utmost  care  to  procure  the  freshest  and 
best  intelligence,  and  publish  it  in  such  order,  as  that  every  reader  may 
have  the  clearest  and  most  perfect  understanding  of  it ;  and  for  the  ben 
efit  of  those  who  are  unacquainted  with  the  geography  of  foreign  parts, 
we  may  insert  such  descriptions  as  may  enlighten  them  therein.  But 
as  we  cannot  expect  to  gratify  our  inquisitive  customers  with  a  constant 
supply  of  news,  (especially  in  this  barren  season,)  we  propose  occasion 
ally  to  insert  such  valuable  extracts  from  our  most  celebrated  writers, 
which  may  be  most  likely  to  improve  or  entertain  our  readers.  And 
as  our  present  political  state  affords  matter  for  a  variety  of  thoughts,  of 
peculiar  importance  to  the  people  of  New  England,  we  propose  to 
insert  every  thing  of  that  nature  that  may  be  pertinently  and  decently 
wrote.  For  ourselves,  we  declare  we  are  of  no  party,  neither  shall  we 
promote  the  private  and  narrow  designs  of  any  such.  We  are  ourselves 
free,  and  our  paper  shall  be  free, — free  as  the  constitution  we  enjoy,  — 
free  to  truth,  good  manners  and  good  sense,  and  at  the  same  time  free 
from  all  licentious  reflections,  insolence  and  abuse.  Whatsoever  may 
be  adapted  to  state  and  defend  the  rights  and  liberties  of  mankind,  to 
advance  useful  knowledge  and  the  cause  of  virtue,  to  improve  the  trade, 
the  manufactures  and  the  Husbandry  of  the  country,  whatever  may 
tend  to  inspire  this  people  with  a  just  and  proper  sense  of  their  own 
condition,  to  point  out  to  them  their  true  interest,  and  rouse  them  to 
pursue  it ;  as  also  any  piece  of  wit  and  humor,  shall  at  all  times  find 
(free  of  charge)  a  most  welcome  reception.  And  although  we  do  not 
altogether  depend  upon  the  casual  benevolence  of  the  public  to  supply 
this  paper,  yet  we  will  thankfully  receive  every  thing  from  every  quarter 
conducing  to  the  good  of  the  public  and  our  general  design. 

The  Advertiser  was  devoted  chiefly  to  politics.    Most 
of  the  essays,  which  were  ably  written,  were  contribut 
ed  by  a  society  of  gentlemen,  associated  for  that  pur- 
14 


158  INDEPENDENT    ADVERTISER. 

pose,  among  whom  the  inflexible  Whig,  Samuel  Adams, 
was  prominent  and  influential. 

Rogers  &  Fowle,  the  publishers  of  this  paper,  formed 
a  partnership  in  1742,  and  carried  on  the  printing  busi 
ness  on  a  scale  somewhat  larger  than  any  of  their  pre 
decessors  or  cotemporaries.  They  issued  a  number  of 
volumes,  which  were  neatly  and  accurately  printed, — 
chiefly  on  their  own  account.  In  1743,  they  published 
the  first  number  of  the  American  Magazine, — in  its 
execution  equal  to  that  of  the  English  periodicals, — 
which  was  continued  three  years.  They  were  excellent 
workmen.  They  manufactured  ink  for  their  own  works, 
and  are  supposed  to  be  the  first  printers  in  America,  who 
were  successful  in  that  branch  of  domestic  manufacture. 
They  printed  an  edition  of  two  thousand  copies  of  the 
New  Testament  for  Daniel  Henchman,  —  the  first  im 
pression  of  that  book  in  English,  which  had  issued  from 
an  American  press.  In  1750,  about  two  years  from  the 
commencement  of  the  publication  of  the  Independent 
Advertiser,  Rogers  &/  Fowle  dissolved  their  partnership, 
and  the  Advertiser  was  discontinued. 

GAMALIEL  ROGERS  served  his  apprenticeship  with 
Bartholomew  Green,  senior.  He  began  business  as  a 
printer,  in  1723,  and  printed  chiefly  for  the  booksellers. 
After  the  dissolution  of  his  partnership  with  Fowle,  he 
opened  a  printing-house  at  the  westerly  part  of  the  town, 
and  wrought  at  his  profession,  in  a  small  way  for  two  or 
three  years,  when  his  house  was  burned,  and  his  press 
and  most  of  his  types  destroyed.  His  property  being 
chiefly  lost,  he  gave  up  business  as  a  printer.  Dejected 
and  broken  in  spirit,  at  an  advanced  period  of  life,  he 
opened  a  shop  near  the  Old  South  meeting-house,  where 


DANIEL    FOWLE.  159 

he  supported  his  family  by  retailing  groceries  in  small 
quantities,  and  selling  a  few  pamphlets,  —  the  remnants 
of  the  stock  accumulated  in  more  prosperous  days.  "  He 
was  an  industrious,  sensible,  amiable  man,  and  a  good 
Christian."  Soon  after  the  battle  of  Bunker-Hill,  in 
1775,  when  Boston  was  in  possession  of  the  British 
troops,  and  besieged  by  the  provincial  army,  Rogers 
obtained  permission  of  the  British  commander  to  leave 
the  place.  He  removed  to  Ipswich,  in  the  county  of 
Essex,  and  died  there,  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  aged 
seventy  years. 

DANIEL  FOWLE,  the  junior  partner  in  the  firm  of  Rogers 
&  Fowle,  was  born  in  Charlestown,  and  served  his 
apprenticeship  with  Samuel  Kneeland.  He  began  busi 
ness  as  a  printer  on  his  own  account,  in  1740.  Soon 
after  his  separation  from  Rogers,  in  1750,  he  opened  a 
printing-office  in  Ann-street,  where  he  kept  a  small  col 
lection  of  books  for  sale,  and  printed  a  number  of  pam 
phlets.  In  July,  1755,  a  pamphlet  made  its  appearance 
in  Boston,  of  which  Fowle  was  suspected  to  be  the 
printer,  and  on  that  suspicion  was  subjected  to  severe 
treatment.  The  pamphlet  was  entitled  "  The  Monster 
of  Monsters  :  a  true  and  faithful  Narrative  of  a  most 
remarkable  phenomenon  lately  seen  in  this  Metropolis  ; 
to  the  great  Surprize  and  Terror  of  His  Majesty's  good 
Subjects ;  humbly  dedicated  to  all  the  Virtuosi  of  New- 
England  :  By  Thomas  Thumb,  Esq."  This  allegorical 
monster  appears  to  have  been  an  excise  law,  which  was 
on  its  passage  through  the  House  of  Representatives. 
It  was  said  to  have  made  its  first  appearance  in  an 
Assembly  of  Matrons,  where  it  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  great  pains  taken  to  make  others  admire  it. 


160  DANIEL    FOWLE. 

A  number  of  speeches  were  reported  as  having  been 
made  by  the  principal  ladies  of  the  assembly ;  but 
whether  the  speeches  bore  any  resemblance  to  the  dis 
cussions  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  is  quite  doubt 
ful.  But  the  House  chose  to  make  an  application  of 
the  remarks  to  several  of  its  members,  and 

Resolved,  That  the  pamphlet  entitled  The  Monster  of  Monsters,  is  a 
false,  scandalous  Libel,  reflecting  upon  the  proceedings  of  the  House 
in  general,  and  on  many  worthy  members  in  particular,  in  breach  of  the 
privileges  thereof. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  pamphlet  be  burnt  by  the  hands  of  the  com 
mon  Hangman,  below  the  Court-House  in  King-street,  Boston,  and 
that  the  Messenger  of  the  House  see  the  same  carried  into  execution. 

Resolved,  That  the  Messenger  of  the  House  do  forthwith  take  into 
custody  Daniel  Fowle  of  Boston,  Printer,  who,  they  are  informed  was 
concerned  in  printing  and  publishing  the  said  pamphlet,  and  that  the 
Speaker  issue  his  warrant  for  that  purpose. 

In  pursuance  of  the  Speaker's  warrant,  on  the  24th 
of  October,  while  he  was  at  his  dinner,  Fowle  was 
arrested,  taken  to  the  House,  and  examined,  after  an 
hour's  confinement  in  the  lobby.  In  a  pamphlet,  entitled, 
"  A  Total  Eclipse  of  Liberty,"  written  and  published 
by  Fowle,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1755,  he  gives 
the  following  account  of  his  examination  :  — 

After  proper  compliments  before  that  Grand  Assembly,  I  was  inter 
rogated  in  the  following  manner,  by  Mr.  Speaker,  viz.  Do  you  know  any 
thing  of  the  printing  of  this  1  After  looking  it  over  some  time,  I  said  it 
was  not  of  my  printing,  neither  had  I  any  such  letters  in  my  print-house. 
After  some  considerable  pause,  and  the  gentlemen  looking  at  one 
another,  I  was  asked,  Whether  I  knew  any  thing  relating  to  said  book  ?  I 
then  desired  the  opinion  of  the  House,  Whether  I  must  answer  to  that 
question.  But  notwithstanding  this  reasonable  request,  there  was  no 
vote  passed,  that  I  could  perceive,  except  three  or  four  gentlemen  said, 
Yes,  Yes,  very  earnestly :  Upon  which  I  informed  them  I  could  not  say, 
I  had  no  concern ;  for,  as  I  heard  there  was  such  a  pamphlet  to  sell,  I 
had  bought  two  dozen,  and  sold  them  out  of  my  shop,  and  should  not 
thought  any  harm,  if  I  had  sold  a  hundred  of  them.  This  brought  on 


DANIEL    FOWLE.  161 

the  following  questions  and  answers,  viz.  Who  did  you  buy  them  of?  I 
replied,  they  were  sent,  I  thought,  by  a  young  man,  but  could  not  tell 
his  name.  Who  did  he  live  with  ?  I  then  again  desired  the  opinion  of 
the  House,  Whether  I  was  obliged  to  tell  who  I  bought  of?  Three  or 
four  again  rose  up,  and  said,  /  must.  Upon  which  I  said  I  believed  the 
young  man  lived  with  Mr.  Royal  Tyler.  It  was  then  demanded, 
Whether  I  had  any  conversation  with  him  about  them  ?  I  replied,  I  believe 
I  might  in  the  same  manner  as  I  had  with  many  others,  not  that  I 
imagined  him  the  author,  nor  any  other  person,  for  I  never  agreed  with 
any  person  about  the  printing  of  it,  neither  was  it  ever  offered  to  me. 
I  was  then  asked,  Whether  any  of  my  hands  assisted  in  the  doing  of  it  ? 
I  believe  my  Negro  might,  as  he  sometimes  worked  for  my  brother.  I 
was  then  queried,  Whether  my  brother  had  any  help  ?  I  said,  No.  Then 
a  gentleman  said,  Somebody  must  help  him,  for  one  could  not  print  alone. 
As  this  was  what  I  never  knew  before,  I  replied,  one  could  print,  and  I 
could  do  five  hundred  with  my  own  hands.  I  was  next  questioned, 
Whether  I  ever  saw  any  of  it  while  printing  ?  As  I  was  determined  to 
show  no  contempt  of  authority,  I  acknowledged  I  had  seen  some  of  it 
printing  off,  as  printers  transiently  go  into  one  another's  houses.  Whose 
house  was  it  ?  I  think  it  was  my  brother's.  What  is  his  name  ? 
Zechariah.  Where  does  he  live  ?  Down  Cross-street.  One  gentleman 
stood  up  and  said,  Some  time  ago  I  said  1  bought  but  two  dozen,  afterwards  / 
bought  a  hundred;  to  which  I  replied,  I  would  have  bought  a  hundred  if  I 
could  have  sold  them.  Another  then  stood  up,  and  said,  before  I  had  time 
to  answer,  You  DO  NOT  KNOW  WHEN  YOU  LIE  :  Upon  which  I  said, 
Begging  your  pardon,  Sir,  I  know  when  I  lie,  and  what  a  lie  is,  as  well 
as  yourself:  to  which  there  was  no  reply. 

Fowle  was  then  again  locked  up  for  three  hours  in 
the  upper  chamber  of  the  Court-house.  He  was  then 
taken  down  and  re-examined,  and  repeated  what  he  had 
said  before.  He  was  locked  up  in  the  garret,  a  third 
time,  and  kept  there  till  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock, 
when  he  was  removed  to  the  gaol.  According  to  his 
account  he  was  treated  with  great  harshness  and  inde 
cency.  On  the  28th,  he  was  taken  to  the  House  of 
Representatives  and  reprimanded  by  the  Speaker,  and 
an  order  was  issued  for  his  discharge  on  his  paying  the 
costs.  Not  complying  with  the  condition  he  was  returned 
14* 


162  DANIEL    FOWLE. 

to  the  gaol.  The  next  day  he  received  information  that 
his  wife  had  been  suffering  under  violent  agitation  on 
account  of  his  confinement,  and  was  pronounced  in  a 
dangerous  condition  by  a  doctor.  He  sent  a  message  to 
the  House  of  Representatives,  asking  to  be  permitted  to 
go  home  to  his  wife,  and  promising  to  be  ready  to  wait 
on  them  when  they  should  have  occasion  for  him.  He 
was  accordingly  discharged,  and  no  further  proceedings 
were  had  in  the  matter. 

Royal  Tyler  was  arrested  and  taken  before  the  House, 
but  declined  to  answer  any  interrogatories.  He  was 
committed  for  contempt,  but  was  released  on  a  promise 
to  appear  when  called  for. 

The  treatment  he  received  from  the  government  in 
duced  Fowle  to  leave  Massachusetts,  and  establish  a 
printing-office  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  In  the  following 
year,  1756,  he  commenced  the  publication  of  the  New- 
Hampshire  Gazette.  He  was  the  first  printer  that  set 
tled  in  that  state.  He  was  appointed  printer  to  the  gov 
ernment,  and  continued  in  business,  till  his  death,  which 
happened  in  June,  1787,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 

The  Negro,  mentioned  by  Fowle  in  his  examination, 
was  called  Primus.  Mr.  Thomas  says,  —  "  He  was  an 
African.  I  well  remember  him  ;  he  worked  at  press, 
with  or  without  an  assistant  ;  he  continued  to  do  press- 
work,  until  prevented  by  age.  He  went  to  Portsmouth 
with  his  master,  and  there  died,  being  more  than  ninety 
years  of  age  ;  about  fifty  of  which  he  was  a  press-man." 


THE  BOSTON  GAZETTE,  OR  WEEKLY 
ADVERTISER. 


AFTER  the  dissolution  of  the  partnership  of  Kneeland 
&£  Green.  Kneeland  began  the  publication  of  a  new 
paper,  with  the  title  of  the  Boston  Gazette,  or  Weekly 
Advertiser.  The  first  number  was  issued  January  3, 
1753,  and  was  avowedly  a  continuation  of  the  old  Bos 
ton  Gazette  and  Weekly  Journal.  It  was  printed  on  a 
half  sheet  of  crown  quarto.  The  title  was  embellished 
with  a  cut,  which  had  been  originally  intended  to  illus 
trate  one  of  ^Esop's  Fables  ;  but  after  the  first  year,  it 
was  exchanged  for  that  which  stands  at  the  head  of  this 
article.  This  was  better  executed  than  any  cut  that  had 
before  appeared  in  any  newspaper.  During  the  first 
year,  no  name  of  printer  or  publisher  appeared  in  the 
imprint.  At  the  close  of  that  year  Kneeland  inserted 
his  name,  as  printer.  The  paper  was  handsomely  print- 


164    BOSTON  GAZETTE,  OR  WEEKLY  ADVERTISER. 

ed.  It  contained  nothing  original  except  occasionally  a 
paragraph  of  intelligence.  It  was  discontinued  in  March, 
1755,  on  account,  as  was  stated,  of  the  provincial  stamp 
act,  and  was  immediately  succeeded  by  Edes  &  Gill's 
Boston  Gazette. 


THE   BOSTON   GAZETTE  AND   COUNTRY 
JOURNAL. 


ON  the  seventh  of  April,  1755,  —  one  week  after  S. 
Kneeland  relinquished  the  publication  of  his  "  Boston 
Gazette,  or  Weekly  Advertiser,"  —  a  third  newspaper, 
bearing  the  title  of  the  Boston  Gazette,  was  published 
by  Edes  &  Gill.  It  was  a  crown  half  sheet,  printed  in 
two  pages,  folio.  When  it  first  appeared,  its  head  was 
decorated  with  two  cuts,  one  of  which  was  the  same 
that  Kneeland  had  used  for  his  Gazette  ;  the  other  was 
that,  which  embellished  the  title  of  Rogers  &i  Fowle's 
Independent  Advertiser.  The  title  of  the  paper  stood 
between  these  two  cuts.  About  the  year  1760,  both 
these  devices  were  laid  aside,  and  that,  which  appears 
at  the  head  of  this  article,  was  adopted,  and  was  con 
tinued  as  part  of  the  title  as  long  as  the  paper  was  pub 
lished.  This  device,  according  to  Mr.  Thomas,  repre- 


166  BOSTON  GAZETTE  AND  COUNTRY  JOURNAL. 

sents  Minerva  (instead  of  Britannia)  seated  before  a 
pedestal,  on  which  is  a  cage ;  Minerva  holds  a  spear 
surmounted  with  the  cap  of  liberty  in  her  left  hand,  and, 
with  her  right  opens  the  cage,  and  liberates  the  bird, 
which  is  represented  as  flying  towards  a  tree  that  stands 
at  some  distance  from  a  city.  At  the  time  of  this 
change,  the  form  of  the  paper  was  enlarged,  and  it  was 
printed  on  a  whole  demy  sheet,  and  the  typography  un 
derwent  some  improvements. 

The  establishment  of  this  Gazette  was  an  important 
event  among  the  memorable  circumstances  and  incidents, 
which  preceded  the  Revolution.  The  office  of  its  pub 
lication  became  the  habitual  resort  of  the  most  distin 
guished  political  writers  of  that  period.  Some  of  them 
had  been  correspondents  of  the  Independent  Advertiser. 
James  Otis,  Samuel  Adams,  John  Hancock,  Joseph 
Warren,  Thomas  Gushing,  John  Adams,  and  Josiah 
Quincy,  jun.  inflexible  advocates  of  civil,  political,  and 
religious  liberty,  were  the  moving  spirits  at  these  meet 
ings  ;  and  there  is  no  doubt,  that  many  of  the  measures 
of  opposition  to  the  acts  of  the  British  Parliament  for 
taxing  the  Colonies,  which  produced  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  and  resulted  in  the  complete  separation  of 
the  Colonies  from  the  parent  country,  originated  in  the 
deliberations  of  this  association  of  patriots  and  statesmen. 
Edes  and  Gill  were  men  of  bold  and  fearless  hearts,  of 
good  reputation  as  private  citizens,  and  unwavering  in 
their  opposition  to  the  policy  of  the  government.  Sup 
ported  and  encouraged,  as  they  were,  by  writers  of  the 
first  talent  and  respectability,  the  Gazette  soon  became 
the  organ  of  the  Whigs,  and  gained  extensive  circulation. 
Every  innovation  upon  the  chartered  privileges  of  the 


EDES    AND    GILL.  167 

Colonies  was  examined,  reviewed,  reprobated,  and  con 
demned,  with  a  freedom  which  knew  no  fear,  and  a  severity 
which  despised  all  control.  No_ press  in  the  country 
exerted  a  more  powerful  influence  over  the  feelings, 
opinions,  and  conduct  of  the  people. 

The  measures  of  the  provincial  government  furnished 
a  long  catalogue  of  grievances,  on  which  the  writers  for 
the  Gazette  were  wont  to  make  their  comments,  even 
from  the  first  publication  of  the  paper ;  and  the  warmth, 
with  which  they  began,  increased  with  every  succeeding 
act  of  oppression,  —  the  Stamp  Act,  the  Massacre,  the 
Tea  Tax,  and  the  closing  of  the  port  of  Boston,  —  to 
the  highest  pitch  of  indignation.  The  proceedings  of 
town-meetings,  of  committees,  and  of  individuals,  con 
cerned  in  opposing  the  arbitrary  measures  of  the  govern 
ment  are  detailed  in  the  Gazette,  and  impart  an  interest 
to  its  columns,  which  will  not  be  subdued  till  the  events 
themselves  shall  be  forgotten.  The  Boston  Massacre, 
which  took  place  on  the  evening  of  the  Fifth  of  March, 
1770,  is  minutely  narrated  in  the  Gazette  of  the  twelfth  ; 
and  this  narrative  has  always  been  deemed  faithful  and 
authentic.  As  it  was  an  event  that  could  not  be  fore 
seen,  the  public  could  not  be  prepared  for  it  by  any 
warning  voice  from  the  press,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Stamp 
Act ;  and  such  was  the  horrible  nature  of  the  transaction, 
—  involving  the  certainty  of  a  judicial  trial  for  assassina 
tion —  that  the  press  preserved  an  almost  total  silence  after 
the  tragedy  was  performed.  Little  concerning  it  can  be 
found  in  any  of  the  papers  of  the  day,  until  after  the 
trial.  The  result  of  the  trial  was  not  universally  satis 
factory.  From  an  occasional  remark  in  the  Gazette,  it 
may  be  inferred  that  the  editors  would  have  been  better 


168     BOSTON  GAZETTE  AND  COUNTRY  JOURNAL. 

» 

pleased,  had  the  verdict  been  otherwise  than  it  was.  A 
writer  under  the  signature  of  "  Vindex,"  published  a 
series  of  articles,  reviewing  the  arguments  of  counsel  and 
the  decisions  of  the  Court,  and  tending  to  show  that  the 
verdict  was  not  such  as  the  testimony  in  the  case  would 
have  justified.  That  John  Adams  and  Josiah  Quincy 
engaged  in  the  defence  of  the  soldiers,  who  were  indicted 
for  the  murder,  was  evidently  much  regretted  by  many 
of  their  friends,  as  well  as  by  a  large  portion  of  the 
people. 

The  anniversary  of  the  massacre  was  marked,  in  Bos 
ton,  by  the  observance  of  solemn  ceremonies,  and  an 
oration  for  several  succeeding  years.  On  the  evening 
of  the  anniversary  in  1771,  a  pageant  was  exhibited, 
which  is  thus  noticed  in  the  Gazette  :  — 

Tuesday  last  was  the  Anniversary  of  the  never-to-be-forgotten  Fifth 
of  March,  1770,  when  Messieurs  Gray,  Maverick,  Caldwell,  Carr,  and 
Attucks  were  inhumanly  murdered  by  a  Party  of  Soldiers  of  the  XXIXth 
Regiment  in  King-Street:  —  The  Bells  of  the  several  Congregational 
Meeting-Houses  were  tolled  from  XII  o'clock  at  Noon  till  I :  —  In  the 
Evening  there  was  a  very  striking  Exhibition  at  the  Dwelling-House  of 
Mr.  PAUL  REVERE,  fronting  the  Old  North  Square.  —  At  one  of 
the  Chamber- Windows  was  the  appearance  of  the  Ghost  of  the  unfor 
tunate  young  Seider,  with  one  of  his  Fingers  in  the  Wound,  endeavor 
ing  to  stop  the  Blood  issuing  therefrom  :  Near  him  his  Friends  weep 
ing  :  And  at  a  small  distance  a  monumental  Obelisk,  with  his  Bust  in 
Front :  —  On  the  Front  of  the  Pedestal,  were  the  Names  of  those  killed 
on  the  Fifth  of  March :  Underneath  the  following  Lines, 

Seider's  pale  Ghost  fresh  bleeding  stands, 
And  Vengeance  for  his  Death  demands. 

In  the  next  Window  were  represented  the  Soldiers  drawn  up,  firing 
at  the  People  assembled  before  them  —  the  Dead  on  the  Ground  —  and 
the  Wounded  falling,  with  the  Blood  running  in  Streams  from  their 
Wounds:  Over  which  was  wrote  FOUL  PLAY.  In  the  third  Window 
was  the  Figure  of  a  Woman,  representing  AMERICA,  sitting  on  the 
Stump  of  a  Tree,  with  a  Staff  in  ker  Hand,  and  the  Cap  of  Liberty 


EUES    AND    GILL.  169 

on  the  Top  thereof,  —  one  Foot  on  the  Head  of  a  Grenadier  lying 
prostrate  grasping  a  Serpent  —  Her  Finger  pointing  to  the  Tragedy. 

The  whole  was  so  well  executed,  that  the  Spectators,  which  amounted 
to  many  Thousands,  were  struck  with  solemn  Silence,  and  their  Coun 
tenances  covered  with  a  melancholy  Gloom.  At  nine  o'clock  the  Bells 
tolled  a  doleful  Peal,  until  Ten ;  when  the  Exhibition  was  withdrawn, 
and  the  People  retired  to  their  respective  Habitations. 

Another  subject  of  great  and  permanent  interest  among 
the  people  of  Boston  during  this  period  of  general  ex 
citement  and  irritation,  was  the  tax  upon  Tea,  and  the 
proceedings  of  the  town  in  reference  thereto.  The 
Gazette  has  a  full  account  of  the  various  town-meetings, 
and  the  correspondence  between  several  committees 
appointed  at  those  meetings  and  the  persons,  to  whom  the 
Teas,  then  on  board  certain  ships  in  the  harbor,  were 
consigned.  The  Destruction  of  the  Tea  —  a  world- 
renowned  exploit, — is  thus  recorded  in  the  Gazette  of 
December  20,  1773  :  — 

On  Tuesday  last  the  body  of  the  people  of  this  and  all  the  adjacent 
towns,  and  others  from  the  distance  of  twenty  miles,  assembled  at  the 
Old  South  meeting-house,  to  inquire  the  reason  of  the  delay  in  sending 
the  ship  Dartmouth,  with  the  East-India  Tea,  back  to  London ;  and 
having  found  that  the  owner  had  not  taken  the  necessary  steps  for  that 
purpose,  they  enjoined  him  at  his  peril  to  demand  of  the  collector  of 
the  customs  a  clearance  of  the  ship,  and  appointed  a  committee  of  ten 
to  see  it  performed :  after  which  they  adjourned  to  the  Thursday  fol 
lowing,  ten  o'clock.  They  then  met,  and  being  informed  by  Mr.  Rotch, 
that  a  clearance  was  refused  him,  they  enjoined  him  immediately  to 
enter  a  protest  and  apply  to  the  Governor  for  a  passport  by  the  castle, 
and  adjourned  again  till  three  o'clock  for  the  same  day.  At  which 
time  they  again  met,  and  after  waiting  till  near  sunset,  Mr.  Rotch  came 
in  and  informed  them  that  he  had  accordingly  entered  his  protest  and 
waited  on  the  Governor  for  a  pass,  but  his  excellency  told  him  he  could 
not  consistent  with  his  duty  grant  it  until  his  vessel  was  qualified.  The 
people  finding  all  their  efforts  to  preserve  the  property  of  the  East-India 
Company  and  return  it  safely  to  London,  frustrated  by  the  tea  con 
signees,  the  collector  of  the  customs,  and  the  Governor  of  the  Province, 
DISSOLVED  their  meeting.  —  But,  BEHOLD  what  followed !  A  number 


170        BOSTON    GAZETTE    AND    COUNTRY    JOURNAL. 

of  brave  and  resolute  men,  determined  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  save 
their  country  from  the  ruin  which  their  enemies  had  plotted,  in  less 
than  four  hours,  emptied  every  chest  of  tea  overboard  the  three  ships 
commanded  by  Captains  Hull,  Bruce,  and  Coffin,  amounting  to  342 
chests,  into  the  Sea ! !  without  the  least  damage  done  to  the  ships  or 
any  other  property.  The  masters  and  owners  are  well  pleased  that 
their  ships  are  thus  cleared ;  and  the  people  are  almost  universally  con 
gratulating  each  other  on  this  happy  event. 

The  state  of  public  feeling,  in  regard  to  the  use  of 
Tea,  is  truly  illustrated  in  the  annexed  article,  from  the 
Gazette  of  September  5,  1784,  —  evidently  the  com 
position  of  one  of  the  editors  :  — 

About  ten  days  since,  there  came  a  villanous  pedlar  to  a  store  in 
Leominster,  who,  upon  examination  was  found  to  have  a  quantity  of 
the  destructive  and  detestable  weed,  Tea  —  which  he  asserted  he  had 
brought  with  him  in  a  late  foreign  voyage,  and  pretended  he  was  carry 
ing  it  home  to  his  dear  wife;  but  it  seems  he  had  not  the  greatest 
regard  and  affection  for  her,  by  his  giving  her  poison.  —  However,  he 
offered  his  Tea  for  sale,  thinking  the  store-keeper  to  be  an  enemy  to 
his  country ;  but,  to  his  great  sorrow,  he  soon  found  it  was  not  so ;  for, 
by  this  time,  the  shop  was  well  stored  with  true  Whigs,  (a  most  respect 
able  assortment,)  who,  it  seems,  were  privately  invited  there  by  the 
store-keeper ;  at  First  sight,  struck  a  horrid  damp  on  the  Tea- Merchant, 
and  perhaps  caused  as  violent  an  agitation  in  his  knees,  as  ever  was  in 
those  of  Belshazzar ;  so  that  he  cried  for  quarter,  begging  they  would 
not  clothe  him  in  the  modern  dress,  the  weather  being  excessively  hot. 
The  Whigs  granted  his  petition,  but  repeatedly  exhorted  him  to  reform, 
and  be  no  longer  an  enemy  to  himself  and  country ;  —  and  finally  they 
made  him  these  very  friendly  proposals,  which  were  as  follows,  that 
he  should  either  immediately  burn  that  Tea,  at  his  own  cost,  or  at 
theirs,  or  have  it  taken  by  force  and  consumed ;  the  former  of  which  he 
readily  agreed  to,  by  burning  the  Tea.  He  then  departed,  heartily 
thanking  them  for  their  kindness  and  benevolence  toward  him. 

But  lenity  cannot,  must  not  be  exercised  towards  these  enemies  much 
longer ;  —  it  is  to  be  feared  the  direful  period  is  at  hand,  when  the  Sons 
of  Liberty  will  be  bound  in  duty,  both  to  God  and  themselves,  to  hang, 
drown,  or  otherwise  demolish  these  execrable  villains  from  the  face  of 
the  earth,  that  posterity  may  enjoy  a  peaceful  and  happy  land,  preserved 
from  utter  ruin  by  the  noble  efforts  of  Freedom's  Sons.  Oh  !  that  the 
refulgent  rays  of  liberty  might  penetrate  the  transparent  skulls  of  those 
abandoned  few,  who  are  ever  plotting  their  country's  ruin. 


EDES    AND    GILL.  171 

During  the  administration  of  Governor  Hutchinson, 
frequent  and  almost  constant  attacks  were  made  upon  it 
by  the  editors  or  correspondents  of  the  Gazette.  His 
speeches  and  messages  to  the  General  Court  were 
reviewed  and  censured  with  freedom,  and  frequently  in 
severe  and  indignant  language.  A  writer  under  the 
signature  of  "  Lucius  "  addressed  to  him  a  series  of  let 
ters,  of  which  the  following, — being  No.  II.  —  is  a 
specimen  :  — 

To  MR.  HUTCHINSON. 

I  have  again  perused  your  letters,  and  am  constrained  to  revisit  you. 
Being  unused  to  claim  audience  of  the  Great,  you  will  pardon  my  ability 
to  attemper  my  awkward  but  honest  salutations  to  the  elegant  organs  of 
the  courtier.  Your  repeated  injunctions  of  secrecy  to  your  confidential 
correspondents,  evidence  you  to  be  perfectly  callous  to  the  feelings  of 
humanity.  Those  who  shrink  not  at  guilt  frequently  recoil  at  shame. 
The  most  finished  profligate  is  more  appalled  at  the  hazard  of  detec 
tion,  than  in  the  perpetration  of  the  grossest  enormities.  Influenced  as 
I  am  by  that  first  great  duty  of  every  citizen  to  drag  to  light  the  con 
spirators  against  the  public  safety,  I  feel  some  regret  to  wound  a  sensi 
bility  so  tremblingly  alive.  I  could  applaud  you,  could  I  hush  my 
conscience  to  a  dead  sleep,  with  less  reluctance  than  I  now  censure  you. 
"Were  I  not  thoroughly  persuaded  your  conspiracies  tend  to  the  ruin  of 
my  country,  you  might  glut  your  unsated  ambition,  and  cram  your 
avarice  to  bursting,  sooner  than  provoke  my  indignation. 

The  iniquitous  measures  concerted  by  you  and  the  junto  of  enemies 
to  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  colony,  have  steadily  received  all  that 
encouragement  and  support,  which  your  native  cunning,  specious  ad 
dress,  and  extensive  popularity  could  afford  them.  The  natural  weight 
of  family  interest,  joined  to  the  adventitious  aid  of  exterior  circum 
stances,  and  that  fertile  source  of  corruption,  titular  dignities,  which  you 
have  managed  like  a  skillful  gambler,  have  preponderated  in  the  ad 
verse  scale,  by  the  foul  revolt  of  the  natural  guardians  of  the  rights  of 
the  people.  The  infamous  monopoly  of  the  offices  of  government  in 
your  family,  has  served  to  render  the  most  of  them  of  some  signifi 
cance  :  Others  have  been  elevated  in  the  true  policy  of  a  Roman  pre 
fect,  from  the  very  dregs  of  mankind :  So  far  from  being  distinguished 
by  their  natural  or  acquired  excellences,  they  are  rather  remarkable  for 
a  gross  defect  of  education  and  understanding :  These  have  been 


172       BOSTON    GAZETTE    AND    COUNTRY    JOURNAL. 

modestly  denominated  the  better  sort  of  people.  I  affect  not  to  despise 
any  man,  but  detest  the  motive  of  snatching  a  rascal  from  the  dunghill, 
though,  by  arts  the  most  contemptible,  he  may  have  acquired  a  casual 
opulence,  and  introduce  him  to  rank  and  place,  to  abet  the  designs  of  a 
traitor.  Men  of  such  characters,  so  unaccountably  distinguished  by 
you,  to  be  sure,  could  not  be  ungrateful ;  they  must  of  necessity  adopt 
the  sentiments,  and  concur  in  the  measures,  of  a  person  of  your  reputed 
wisdom,  from  whom  they  live,  move,  and  have  their  political  being ;  the 
dread  of  being  consigned  to  their  primitive  nothingness,  should  they  be 
possessed  of  one  spark  of  virtue,  would  prevent  their  acting  counter  to 
your  sovereign  dictates.  Could  they  be  supposed  to  court  disgrace  by 
an  heroic  act  of  self-denial,  you  had  another  tenure  to  secure  obedience 
by  your  assurance,  that  they  would  certainly  meet  with  favor  and  encour 
agement. 

In  your  own  person  you  exhibit  a  shining  example  of  the  corrupt 
traffic  of  the  times  ;  you  have  received  a  noble  compensation  for  your 
pliability.  If  you  are  become  a  pack-horse  of  tyranny,  you  bound  over 
us  with  glittering  trappings.  I  cannot  but  admire  the  fertility  of  your 
genius  ;  rich  in  expedients,  you  could  ever  bend  your  interpretations  to 
the  temper  of  your  masters  :  ministerial  mandates  operate  in  your 
hands  with  an  energy  uncontrollable :  Eight,  justice,  private  judgement 
and  public  convenience,  have  ever  been  annihilated  at  the  fiat  of  a  pri 
vate  instruction  ;  yet  by  the  strange  struggle  of  a  political  1  ilate,  you 
have  affected  to  wash  your  hands  of  the  guilt  of  parricide.  But  have 
you  not  gone  beyond  your  tether,  Sir  ?  In  the  career  of  success,  you 
have  failed  to  consider  the  times  might  alter  still.  As  you  have  pro 
ceeded  too  far  to  retreat  without  covering  yourself  with  disgrace,  perse 
vere,  I  charge  you.  Let  us  not  arraign  you  of  want  of  fortitude  or  con 
sistency  ;  blush  only  in  secret,  if  conscience,  awakened,  denies  you  re 
pose  ;  laugh  at  that  bugbear  of  the  sordid  and  timorous ;  despise  the 
frowns  of  the  virtuous,  the  curses  of  the  multitude;  preserve  what? 
Conscience  placated,  honor  unimpeached,  integrity  untainted,  or  your 
country  unthralled  ?  No,  Sir;  preserve  your  place. 

You  insist,  there  must  be  an  abridgement  of  what  are  called  English  Lib 
erties  ;  you  wish  to  see  a  further  restraint  of  Liberty  in  the  Colony :  for 
what  reason,  Sir  ?  Because  your  misrepresentations  would  fail  of  their 
designed  effect,  without  the  total  ruin  of  the  colony  ?  Let  me  challenge 
you  in  the  face  of  Heaven,  What  right  has  the  colony  justly  forfeited  ? 
What  claim  has  she  not  justly  made  ?  Do  not  reason  and  equity  forbid 
us  to  pay  submission  to  such  acts  and  regulations,  which,  so  far  from 
being  beneficial,  are  grievous  and  unconstitutional  ?  Are  we  indulged 
in  the  personal  security  of  British  subjects  ?  No  !  Is  acquired  property 


EDES    AND    GILL.  173 

ours  by  any  certain  tenure  ?  No.  Are  not  our  claims  of  charter-rights 
deemed  nugatory,  insolent,  and  contumacious  1  Yes.  One  question 
more  I  must  be  indulged  in,  —  What  must  be  the  opinion  of  your  vir 
tue  and  honesty,  among  your  confidential  correspondents,  when  they 
consider  you  as  a  native  American  so  solicitous  to  abridge  the  liberties 
of  your  countrymen  ?  What  must  be  the  resentments  of  your  fellow- 
citizens  respecting  the  man,  whom  they  have  peculiarly  caressed,  hon 
ored,  and  promoted  ?  You  have  intended  the  colonies  irreparable  mis 
chief,  by  inculcating  that  narrow  and  diabolical  maxim,  that  a  colony, 
distant  from  the  parent  state,  cannot  possibly  enjoy  all  the  liberty  of  the  pa 
rent  state.  You  refer,  probably,  to  the  colonies  of  Rome,  the  fruits  of 
conquest :  Do  not  the  circumstances  of  these  colonies  materially  differ 
from  those  ?  Pray  inform  me,  What  is  the  bond  of  our  subjection  ? 
Those  colonies  were  harassed  by  other  Bernards  and  other  Hutchin- 
sons.  They  finally  revolted ;  and,  after  tearing  the  empire  to  pieces  by 
intestine  broils,  Rome,  the  mistress  of  the  universe,  gave  up  the  ghost ; 
and  bequeaths  a  wiser  lesson  to  Britain  than  that  of  the  sage  Mr. 
Hutchinson,  quoted  above.  Through  your  machinations,  and  those  of 
your  great  antetype  Bernard,  this  colony  has  suffered  violence  ;  even  at 
this  period,  power  has  no  barrier  in  America.  A  tyrant,  Sir,  can  make 
no  atonement  for  reducing  subjects  to  slavery.  Power,  once  perverted 
to  the  radical  injury  of  a  state,  becomes  too  poor  to  make  them  com 
pensation,  and  must  and  will  be  checked,  whenever  time  and  abilities 
present  a  favorable  opportunity.  To  this  dilemma  your  wicked  coun 
sels  have  reduced  the  nation :  they  certainly  foresee  that  civil  discord 
must  eventually  purchase  what  is  unreasonably  withheld  from  unavail 
ing  petitions.  Lucius. 

The  letters,  alluded  to  at  the  beginning  of  the  prece 
ding  address  to  the  Governor,  were  written  by  him  to  a 
member  of  the  British  cabinet,  in  the  year  1772.  The 
originals  were  obtained  by  Dr.  Franklin,  and  sent  to 
Massachusetts,  to  a  member  of  the  General  Court,  who 
presented  them  to  that  body.  The  doors  leading  to  the 
galleries  of  the  House  of  Representatives  were  closed 
while  the  letters  were  read.  The  House  immediately 
voted,  "  That  the  tendency  and  design  of  said  letters 
was  to  subvert  the  constitution  of  this  government,  and 
to  introduce  arbitrary  power  into  the  provinces."  The 
15* 


174        BOSTON    GAZETTE    AND    COUNTRY    JOURNAL. 

next  day  the  Governor  sent  a  message  to  the  House, 
stating  that  he  had  been  informed  of  their  vote,  and 
denying  that  he  had  ever  written  any  public  or  private 
letter  with  such  an  intention,  or  that  could  have  any 
such  effect.  He  demanded  a  transcript  of  their  pro 
ceedings,  and  information  as  to  the  letters  referred  to. 
The  demand  was  complied  with,  and  another  message 
was  transmitted  to  the  House,  in  which  he  endeavored 
to  exculpate  himself  from  the  imputation  implied  in  the 
vote  of  the  House  ;  but  the  attempt  was  ineffectual  and 
the  treachery  of  the  Governor  became  apparent.  The 
matter  was  discussed  in  the  House,  and,  on  the  15th  of 
June,  that  body  passed,  by  a  very  large  majority,  a  set 
of  Resolutions,  the  last  of  which  was  —  "That  this 
House  is  bound  in  duty  to  the  King  and  their  constitu 
ents,  humbly  to  remonstrate  to  his  Majesty  the  conduct 
of  his  excellency  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esq.  Governor, 
and  the  honorable  Andrew  Oliver,  Esq.  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  this  Province  ;  and  to  pray  that  his  Majesty 
would  be  pleased  to  remove  them  for  ever  from  the  gov 
ernment  thereof."  The  House  immediately  appointed 
the  Speaker,  and  Messrs.  Adams,  Hancock,  Hawley,  and 
Leonard,  a  committee  to  carry  the  resolution  into  effect.* 
I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  at  what  time  John 
Adams  began  to  write  for  the  Boston  Gazette.  It  is 
probable  that  many  of  the  communications,  animadvert 
ing  on  the  arbitrary  proceedings  of  the  ministry,  and  of 
their  agents  in  the  colonies,  and  published  under  differ 
ent  signatures,  were  his  productions.  A  controversy 

*A  full  and  interesting  history  of  proceedings  and  events  connected  with  the 
transmission  and  receipt  of  these  Letters,  may  be  found  in  Sparks's Life  and  Writ 
ings  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  vol.Jv.  p.  414. 


EDES    AND    GILL.  175 

arose  between  him  and  William  Brattle,  of  Cambridge, 
concerning  the  appointment  and  salaries  of  Judges, 
which  was  published  in  the  Gazette.  The  articles  writ 
ten  by  Mr.  Adams,  in  this  controversy,  are  signed  with 
his  name.  It  was  in  January,  1775,  that  Mr.  Adams 
began  to  publish  in  the  Gazette  the  celebrated  series  of 
papers,  under  the  signature  of  "  NOVANGLUS."  These 
were  occasioned  by  a  series  signed  "  MASSACHUSETTEN- 
sis,"  written  by  Jonathan  Sewall  — an  eminent  lawyer, 
who  abandoned  his  country  and  her  cause,  and  went  to 
England  in  1775.  "  He  and  John  Adams  were  bosom 
friends.  He  attempted  to  dissuade  Mr.  Adams  from 
attending  the  first  continental  congress  ;  and  it  was  in 
reply  to  his  arguments,  and  as  they  walked  on  the  Great 
Hill  at  Portland,  that  Adams  used  the  memorable  words : 
1  The  die  is  now  cast ;  I  have  now  passed  the  Rubicon  ; 
swim  or  sink,  live  or  die,  survive  or  perish  with  my 
country  is  my  unalterable  determination.'  They  parted 
and  met  no  more,  until  Sewall  came  to  America  in  1788. 
The  one,  the  high-souled,  the  lion-hearted  Adams,  had 
a  country,  and  a  free  country  ;  the  eloquent  and  gifted 
Sewall  lived  and  died  a  colonist."  * 

Mr.  Adams  addressed  his  communications  "  To  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts-Bay,"  and 
promises,  in  his  introductory  paper,  to  accompany  his 
antagonist,  in  his  "  ingenious  labors  to  convince  the  peo 
ple  that  the  system  of  colony  administration,  which  has 
been  pursued  for  ten  or  twelve  years,  is  a  wise,  righteous, 
and  humane  plan  ;  that  Sir  Francis  Bernard  and  Mr. 
Hutchinson,  are  their  best  friends  ;  and  that  those  gen 
tlemen  in  this  and  the  other  colonies,  who  have  been  in 

*S;ibine's  American  Loyalists,  p.  C09. 


176    BOSTON  GAZETTE  AND  COUNTRY  JOURNAL. 

opposition  to  it,  are  from  ignorance,  error,  or  from  worse 
and  baser  causes,  your  worst  enemies."  Massachusettensis 
had  pledged  himself  to  "  avoid  personal  reflections,  but 
to  penetrate  the  arcana,  and  expose  the  wretched  policy 
of  the  Whigs."  "  I,  on  my  part,"  says  Novanglus, 
"  may,  perhaps,  in  a  course  of  papers,  penetrate  arcana, 
too; — show  the  wicked  policy  of  the  Tories — trace 
their  plan  from  its  first  rude  sketches  to  its  present  com 
plete  draught ;  —  show  that  it  has  been  much  longer  in 
contemplation,  than  is  generally  known  —  who  were  the 
first  in  it  —  their  views,  motives,  and  secret  springs  of 
action,  —  and  the  means  they  have  employed.  This 
will  necessarily  bring  before  your  eyes  many  characters, 
living  and  dead.  From  such  a  research  and  detail  of 
facts,  it  will  clearly  appear  who  were  the  aggressors,  and 
who  have  acted  on  the  defensive,  from  first  to  last  —  who 
are  still  struggling,  at  the  expense  of  their  ease,  health, 
peace,  wealth,  and  preferment,  against  the  encroach 
ments  of  the  Tories  on  their  country,  —  and  who  are 
determined  to  continue  to  struggle,  at  much  greater  haz 
ards  still,  and,  like  the  Prince  of  Orange,  resolve  never 
to  see  its  entire  subjection  to  arbitrary  power,  but  rather 
to  die  fighting  against  it,  in  the  last  ditch."  This  series 
of  papers  was  continued  for  several  months,  —  occupy 
ing  a  large  portion  of  the  Gazette,  not  unfrequently  two 
or  three  pages  at  a  time.  They  were  received  and 
approved,  everywhere,  by  the  Whigs ;  admired  for  the 
manly  freedom  and  energy  of  their  style,  the  clearness 
of  the  writer's  reasoning,  the  pertinence  of  his  reflections, 
and  the  indisputable  facts  and  testimonies,  on  which  his 
arguments  were  founded.  They  placed  the  grounds  and 
progress  of  the  controversy  in  the  fairest  point  of  view, 


EDES    AND    GILL.  177 

and  detected  the  base  arts  and  false  glosses,  by  which 
the  principles  and  conduct  of  the  Whigs  had  been  mis 
represented. 

One  of  the  most  bold,  powerful,  and  eloquent,  of  the 
fearless  patriots,  who  wrote  for  the  Gazette,  was  Josiah 
Quincy,  jun.  This  gentleman,  —  born  in  1T44,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1763,  —  published  in 
the  Gazette  of  September  28,  1767,  an  article  signed 
"  HYPERION,"  which  was  followed  by  a  second  piece 
under  the  same  signature,  on  the  5th  of  October.  He 
was  then  only  in  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  and 
had  just  commenced  the  practice  of  the  law  in  his  native 
town  of  Boston.  The  following  sentences  are  extracted 
from  the  first  of  these  articles  :  — 

"Pis  a  political  maxim,  that  all  government  tends  to  despotism,  and, 
like  the  human  frame,  brings,  at  its  birth,  the  latent  seed,  which  finally 
shall  destroy  the  constitution.  This  is  a  melancholy  truth  —  but  such 
is  the  lot  of  humanity.  The  art  of  an  ingenious  physician  may,  indeed, 
for  a  time,  illude  the  desperate  poison,  the  skill  of  an  able  patriot  may 
prolong,  for  a  while,  the  political  existence  of  a  state ;  but  the  constitu 
tion  still  hastens,  with  increasing  velocity,  to  inevitable  death.  This 
truth  is  founded  in  nature  :  Experience,  has,  in  every  age,  verified  this 
maxim  of  politics,  and  the  approaching  fate  of  our  mother  country  shall 
but  confirm  the  observation. 

An  insatiable  appetite,  an  enormous  thirst  of  despotic  sway,  is  a 
threatening  symptom  and  sure  presage  of  the  final  catastrophe  of  the 
constitutional  system.  A  desire  of  absolute  government  prompts  to  the 
extension  of  legal  authority,  and  states,  like  men,  are  precipitated  head 
long,  by  a  boundless  ambition,  from  the  giddy  precipice  of  power  into 
the  gulf  of  ruin  and  destruction.  O  Britain !  hold  thy  cruel  hand  !  sus 
pend  the  bloody  sword  an  instant,  and  while,  with  an  outstretched  arm, 
thou  art  forcing  from  thy  injured  colonies  one  right  after  another, — 
while,  even  now,  thou  art  making  the  desperate  pass,  which  stabs  the 
very  vitals  of  thy  children,  reflect,  one  single  moment,  upon  the  unnatu 
ral,  the  brutal  action.  But  if  the  dismal  scene  of  wo,  —  thy  sons  and 
daughters  weltering  in  their  infant  blood,  touch  not  thy  adamantine 
heart,  look  back  to  distant  ages,  and  see  the  rise  and  fall  of  ancient 
kingdoms !  Behold  their  fate,  and  learn  thine  own !  .  .  .  . 


178    BOSTON  GAZETTE  AND  COUNTRY  JOURNAL. 

The  powers  of  the  human  mind  were  never  made  for  unlimited  juris 
diction  over  the  extensive  realms  of  science,  neither  was  the  sceptre  of 
civil  society  formed  for  arbitrary  and  universal  empire.  The  political 
like  the  animal  body  is  in  the  best  health,  while  the  original  constitution 
is  kept  pure  and  undebauched. 

The  second  communication  of"  Hyperion,"  published 
in  the  Gazette  of  October  5,  1767,  here  follows  entire. 
The  motto,  it  will  be  perceived,  is  a  string  of  quotations 
from  Shakspeare,  with  slight  variations,  to  adapt  the  sen 
timent  to  the  time  and  the  occasion.  This  seems  to 
have  been  a  common  practice  with  Mr.  Quincy.  The 
mottoes  to  many  of  his  subsequent  contributions  to  the 
Gazette,  are  thus  constructed.  "  His  compositions,  dur 
ing  this  period,  prove  that  he  was  extensively  conversant 
with  the  best  writers  of  the  French  and  English  schools. 
Above  all,  the  genius  of  Shakspeare  seems  to  have  led 
captive  his  youthful  imagination.  In  his  writings,  quo 
tations,  or  forms  of  expression  modeled  upon  those  of 
that  author,  perpetually  recur.  There  still  exists  among 
his  papers  a  manuscript  of  the  date  of  1762,  he  then 
being  in  the  junior  class  of  the  college,  of  seventy  closely 
and  minutely  written  quarto  pages  of  extracts  from 
that  writer."  * 

Are  we  unpregnant  of  our  cause  ? 

Can  we  do  nothing,  no,  not  for  our  country, 

Upon  whose  property  and  most  dear  life 

A  vile  defeat  is  made  ?    Are  we  all  cowards  ? 

It  cannot  be 

But  we  are  pigeon-livered,  and  lack  gall 

To  make  oppression  bitter,  or,  ere  this, 

We  should  have  fatted  all  the  region  kites 

With  the  offal  of  these  slaves.    Bloody  villains ! 

Kemorseless,  treacherous,  kindless  villains  ! 

O  vengeance !    

O  all  you  host  of  heaven  !     O  earth  !    What  else  ? 

*See  "Memoir  of  Josiah  Quincy,  jun.,  by  his  Son,  Josiah  Qtiincy,"  page  7. 


EDES    AND    GILL.  179 

And  shall  I  couple  Hell  ?     O  fie  !     Hold,  hold,  my  heart  ! 
And  you,  my  sinews,  grow  not  instant  old, 
But  bear  me  stiffly  up.     Can  I  forget  thee  ? 

0  my  poor  country !  while  memory  holds  a  seat 
In  this  distracted  globe,  I  will  remember  thee  ! 
Yea,  from  the  table  of  my  memory, 

1  '11  wipe  away  all  trivial,  fond  records, 

All  saws  of  books,  all  forms,  all  pressures  past, 

That  Youth  and  observation  copied  there, 

And  thy  commandments  all  alone  shall  live 

Within  the  book  and  volume  of  my  brain, 

Unmixed  with  baser  matter :  —  Yes,  by  Heaven ! 
When  I  reflect  upon  the  exalted  character  of  the  ancient  Britons, 
when  I  call  to  mind  the  fortitude  of  our  illustrious  predecessors,  when 
my  memory  retraces  the  noble  struggles  of  the  late  memorable  period ; 
when  from  these  reflections  a  very  natural  transition  is  made,  and  I 
contemplate  the  gloomy  aspect  of  the  present  day,  my  feeling  heart  is 
alternately  torn  with  doubt  and  hope,  despondency  and  terror.  Can 
the  true,  generous  magnanimity  of  British  heroes  be  entirely  lost  in 
their  degenerate  progeny  ?  Is  the  Genius  of  Liberty,  whose  breath,  but 
a  few  days  since,  inflamed  our  bosoms  with  a  celestial  ardor,  fled  for 
ever  ?  Is  the  spirit  of  the  prophets  departed  from  among  us,  that  our 
enemies  should  become  triumphant,  and  those,  who  seek  our  destruction, 
should  rejoice  ?  Or  does  the  Lion  of  the  wood  but  sleep,  that  when  he 
is  roused  from  his  slumbers,  the  roaring  of  his  mouth  and  the  flame  of 
his  nostrils  may  be  the  more  terrible  ?  O  ye  ravenous  blood-hounds  ! 
who  eager  stand,  with  wide-expanded  jaws,  to  seize  your  prey,  to  you  1 
call,  but  with  no  friendly  voice.  Have  you  not  seen  the  young  Lion  of 
the  forest  enraged  ?  have  you  not  heard  the  thunder  of  his  voice  1  have 
you  not  beheld  the  lightning  of  his  eye  ?  —  Come  not  too  near  his  sacred 
retreat ;  disturb  not  his  peaceful  repose ;  tempt  not  his  wrath,  lest  he 
gnash  his  teeth  with  indignation,  lest  he  tear  you  in  pieces  in  the  frenzy 
of  his  passion,  and  give  your  flesh  to  the  birds  of  the  air,  and  your  bones 
to  the  wild  beasts  of  the  field. 

An  attentive  observer  of  the  deportment  of  some  particular  persons, 
in  this  metropolis,  would  be  apt  to  imagine  that  the  grand  point  was 
gained ;  the  people  entirely  broken  to  the  Yoke  ;  all  America  subjugat 
ed  to  bondage.  Does  the  baleful  blast  of  calamity  blow  upon  our 
land  ?  —  See  these  accursed  betrayers  of  their  native  soil  snuff  with  joy 
the  tainted  gale.  Does  the  herald  of  report  sound  forth  the  doom  of  a 
sister  colony  7  —  See  these  vipers  of  our  bosom  swell  with  triumph ;  see 
them,  even  now,  devouring,  in  imagination,  the  vitals  of  their  country, 


180         BOSTON  GAZETTE  AND  COUNTRY  JOURNAL. 

and  anticipate  the  riotous  feast  they  expect  shortly  to  make  upon  the 
blood  and  treasure  of  their  fellow-citizens ;  and,  as  if  already  they  had 
fattened  and  grown  wanton  upon  the  spoils  of  the  land,  see  them  toss 
the  head  of  insolence,  put  on  the  haughty  air  of  contemptuous  disdain, 
and  insultingly  display  their  lordships  and  dominions,  their  potentates 
and  powers  ;  nay,  they  dare  to  tell  us,  our  only  hope  is  to  crouch  and 
cowl  under  the  iron  rod,  and  kiss  the  sceptre  of  oppression.  Precious 
sample  of  the  meek  and  lowly  temper  of  those,  who  are  destined  to  be 
our  imperious  lords  and  masters  ! 

Be  not  deceived,  my  countrymen,  by  these  venal  hirelings,  these 
mercenary  tools  of  power.  Let  them  not  cajole  you  by  their  subtleties 
into  submission,  or  frighten  you  by  their  vaporings  into  compliance. 
Should  some  wretched  minion,  who  would  palm  himself  as  "  a  true  Pa 
triot"  endeavor  to  flatter  you  into  " moderation  and  prudence"  tell  him 
that  calmness  and  deliberation  are  to  guide  the  judgement ;  courage  and 
intrepidity  are  to  command  in  action.  Should  he  tell  us  to  "perceive 
our  inability  to  oppose  the  Mother  Country"  —  we  boldly  answer,  that,  in 
defence  of  our  civil  and  religious  rights,  we  dare  to  oppose  the  world  j 
that,  with  the  God  of  armies  on  our  side,  even  the  God,  who  fought  our 
Fathers'  battles,  we  fear  not  the  hour  of  trial ;  though  the  host  of  our 
enemies  should  cover  the  field  like  locusts,  and  set  their  armies  in 
dreadful  array  against  us,  yet  the  sword  of  the  Lord  and  of  Gideon  shall 
prevail.  —  But,  "away  with  political  enthusiasm!"  If  this,  thou  Blas 
phemer,  is  enthusiasm,  then  will  we  live  and  die  enthusiasts. 

"  IP  YOU  ARE  AGGRIEVED,"  says  the  "  True  Patriot,"  "  strive  by  all 
prudent  means  to  obtain  redress." —  Go,  thou  dastard  !  Get  thee  home ! 
A  rank  adulterer  riots  in  thy  bed,  a  brutal  ravisher  deflowers  thy  only 
daughter,  a  barbarous  villain  now  lifts  the  murderous  hand,  and  stabs 
thy  tender  infant  to  the  heart.  See  the  sapphire  current  trickling  from 
the  wound,  and  the  dear  boy,  as  he  now  gasps  his  last,  cries  out  for  the 
ruffian's  mercy.  Go !  thou  wretch !  be  calm,  and  soothe  the  frenzy  of 
thy  soul  into  tame  moderation ;  —  Go  !  Doubt  the  injuries  you  feel ;  — 
Go !  question  with  the  assassin  of  thy  wrongs ;  —  and  when,  insultingly, 
he  brandishes  the  fatal  dagger,  reeking  with  thy  infant's  gore,  nay,  holds 
the  crimson-tinged  point  to  thy  own  bosom,  and  bids  defiance  to  thy  ut 
most  rage,  then,  in  the  very  instant  of  tumultuous  fury,  —  Go !  Let 
even  thy  coward  soul  boast,  if  it  can,  of  "prudence,  calmness,  and  deliber 
ation." 

Out,  thou  abandoned  caitiff !  Desist  thy  vile  but  impotent  attempts 
to  lure  my  fellow-countrymen  to  the  hidden  snare.  Thy  blandishments 
will  not  fascinate  our  eyes,  neither  do  thy  threats  of  a  "  halter  "  intimi 
date  us.  For,  under  God,  we  are  determined,  that,  wheresoever,  when- 


EDES    AND    GILL.  181 

soever,  or  howsoever  we  shall  be  called  to  make  our  exit,  we  will  die 
free  men.  And  well  do  we  know,  that  all  the  regalia  of  death  cannot 
dignify  a  villain's  past  life,  nor  diminish  the  ignominy  with  which  a 
slave  shall  quit  his  existence ;  neither  can  it  taint  the  unblemished 
honor  of  a  son  of  freedom,  though  he  should  make  his  departure  on  the 
already-prepared  gibbet,  or  be  dragged  to  the  new-erected  scaffold 
for  execution.  With  the  plaudit  of  conscience  he  will  go  off  the  stage ; 
the  crown  of  joy  and  immortality  shall  be  his  reward ;  the  history  of 
his  life,  his  children  shall  venerate ;  the  virtues  of  their  sire  shall  excite 
their  emulation. 

Hear  me,  thou  Patriot- Traitor,  and  all  ye  despicable  tribe  of  great 
and  petty  villains  !  Display  not  too  soon  your  "  halter,  jire,  and  faggot;" 
quaff  not  our  blood  before  your  time,  lest  your  eagerness  to  anticipate 
forestall  the  delights  of  fruition. 

My  much  respected  countrymen !  Be  not  terrified  by  the  threats 
and  vaunting  of  your  sworn  foes :  For,  even  in  our  times,  we  have 
seen  the  linger  of  the  Lord ;  and  we  have  heard  with  our  ears,  and  our 
fathers  have  told  us,  the  great  things  which  God  did  for  them  in  their 
day ;  how  he  delivered  them,  in  the  howling  wilderness,  out  of  the  paw 
of  the  Lion,  and  out  of  the  paw  of  the  bear;  how,  with  an  outstretched 
hand,  he  led  them  through  the  dreary  desert,  giving  them  the  manria  of 
heaven  for  food,  and  the  water  out  of  the  rock  for  them  to  drink  ;  how 
he  miraculously  preserved  his  chosen  people  from  tempest,  fire,  sword, 
and  famine,  and  put  all  their  lurking  and  insidious  enemies  to  flight. 
Surely,  his  ear  is  not  heavy,  that  he  cannot  hear,  nor  his  arm  shortened, 
that  he  cannot  save.  —  Did  he  not  plant  us  with  his  own  hand  ?  Hath 
he  not  nourished  and  brought  us  up  as  children  ?  Surely,  he  will  not, 
now,  altogether  cast  us  off !  If  we  seek  him,  he  will  be  found  of  us  ; 
while  we  serve  him,  he  will  never  forsake  us.  And,  if  our  God  be  for 
us,  who  shall  be  against  us  ?  Though  our  enemies  should  be  as  the 
vermin  of  the  field,  or  as  the  insects  of  the  air,  yet  will  I  not  be  dis 
mayed;  for  the  breath  of  his  mouth  shall  scatter  them  abroad,  the 
power  of  his  strength  shall  confound  and  overwhelm  them  with  mighty 
destruction.  HYPERION. 

The  agreement,  entered  into  by  most  of  the  Boston 
merchants,  to  discontinue  the  importation  of  British 
goods,  was  greatly  annoying  to  the  Tories.  A  writer  in 
the  Boston  Chronicle,  who  adopted  the  signature  of  "  a 
Bostonian,"  was  illiberal  and  abusive,  and  endeavored  to 
divert  public  attention  from  matters  of  general  moment 

VOL.     I.  16 


182        BOSTON    GAZETTE    AND    COUNTRY    JOURNAL. 

to  the  concerns  of  individuals.  Mr.  Quincy  published 
in  the  Gazette  of  February  12  and  26,  1770,  two  arti 
cles,  signed  "  an  Independant,"  in  reply  to  "  Bostonian." 
In  the  first  of  these,  the  following  paragraphs  occur :  — 

A  writer,  who  sets  out,  with  telling  us  that  "  our  attention  has  long 
been  engrossed  with  wild  chimeras"  carries  "  a  title-page,  that  speaks 
the  nature  of  a  volume."  The  objects  that  have  attracted  our  eyes,  as 
well  as  the  hearts  of  all  North-America,  need  no  further  elucidation  to 
show  their  value  and  importance.  If  there  is  any  "  charm,"  that  is  like 
to  ensnare  us,  —  any  "  fascination,"  that  should  be  dispelled,  it  is  the 
"  fascinating  charm  "  of  imitating  the  enticing  luxuries  of  those,  who 
riot  on  the  toil  of  others ;  —  a  greater  danger,  a  danger,  that  is  alarm 
ing,  in  proportion  as  it  is  not  generally  perceived.  A  great  danger  of 
the  present  day  is,  that  we  should  be  allured  by  the  affluence  and  splen 
dor  of  the  creatures,  among  us,  who  are  insinuating  their  poison,  by  in 
creasing  their  connections,  and  corrupting  the  minds  of  the  young  and 
unwary,  with  flattering  expectations  of  eating  idle  bread. 


"If  I  ask,  (says  the  Eostonian,)  an  advocate  for  the  non-importation 
agreement,  what  end  it  is  to  answer,  I  am  told  it  is  to  bring  about  a 
REPEAL  of  the  revenue  laws."  But,  by  the  gentleman's  leave,  I,  who 
am  an  advocate  for  the  same  agreement,  would  make  a  very  different 
answer.  I  believe,  if  those  laAvs  are  never  repealed,  it  will  be  happy 
for  my  country ;  and  therefore,  as  a  good  citizen,  I  wish  for  their  con 
tinuance From  a  conviction  in  my  own  mind,  that  America 

is  now  the  slave  of  Britain  ;  from  a  sense  that  we  are  every  day,  more 
and  more,  in  danger  of  an  increase  of  our  burdens,  and  a  fastment  of 
our  shackles,  I  wish  to  see  my  countrymen  break  off  —  OFF  FOR 
EVER  !  —  all  social  intercourse  with  those,  whose  commerce  contam 
inates,  whose  luxuries  poison,  whose  avarice  is  insatiable,  and  whose 
unnatural  oppressions  are  not  to  be  borne.  That  Americans  will  know 
their  rights,  that  they  will  resume,  assert,  and  defend  them,  are  matters, 
of  which  I  harbor  no  doubt.  Whether  the  arts  of  POLICY,  or  the  arts 
of  war,  will  decide  the  contest,  are  problems  we  will  solve  at  a  more 
convenient  season.  He,  whose  heart  is  enamored  with  the  refinements 
of  political  artifice  and  finesse,  will  seek  one  mode  of  relief; — he, 
whose  heart  is  free,  honest,  and  intrepid,  will  pursue  another,  a  bolder 
and  more  noble  mode  of  redress.  This  reply  is  so  intelligible,  that  it 
needs  no  comment  for  explanation. 


EDES    AND    GILL.  183 

The  Gazette  of  August  6,  1770,  contains  another  of 
Mr.  Quincy's  communications,  signed  "An  Old  Man," 
in  which  he  says: — "A  wise  people  will  inquire 
thoroughly  into  every  scheme  proposed  for  their  adop 
tion,  and  when  its  baneful  or  salutary  effect  is  discerned, 
will  be  inflexible  in  their  resolutions.  A  nation  would 
be  mad,  indeed,  should  they  see,  as  in  the  meridian  sun, 
a  design  to  enslave  them,  and,  after  a  feeble  opposition, 
be  cajoled  or  bullied  into  timid  acquiescence.  But  their 
conduct  would  be  singularly  infamous  and  deplorable, 
should  they  tamely  surrender  their  birthrights  to  pimps, 
parasites,  and  harpies,  when  their  solemn  protestations  of 
resistance,  to  their  hearts'  blood,  had  been  registered  in 
the  records  of  eternity.  Dead,  also,  must  they  be  to 
every  moral  sentiment,  should  they  be  actuated  to  com 
mit  the  most  atrocious  crime  by  a  fondness  and  precipi- 
tude  to  imitate  the  perfidy  of  others.  Surely,  it  is  to 
good  men  and  Christians  a  strange  doctrine,  that  the 
villany  of  one  part  of  society,  is  a  sanction  for  the 
wickedness  of  the  residue.  Men,  who  have  a  genuine 
attachment  to  their  most  important  concernments,  will 
examine  what  is  their  duty,  and  what  the  Lord  their  God 
requireth  of  them  ;  and  then  will  walk  as  a  well- 
informed  conscience  shall  dictate.  On  such  men  alone, 
under  God,  do  we  depend  ;  — on  those,  who,  despising  the 
disingenuity  of  fraudulent  subterfuge,  will  persevere, 
with  untainted  probity,  to  the  end. 

"  We  have  been  verging,  an  unexpected  length  of 
time,  to  that  trying  period,  which  is  to  delineate,  and 
mark  for  ever,  our  true  characters.  If  we  are  blind,  we 
shall  surely  be  deluded ;  if  discerning,  we  shall  escape 
the  snare.  If  we  are  pusillanimous  wretches,  we  may 


184        BOSTON    GAZETTE    AND    COUNTRY    JOURNAL. 

be  easily  frightened  ;  if  brave,  our  courage,  vigor,  and 
stability  will  accumulate  strength  by  opposition.  And 
let  those,  who  fear  the  wants  arising  from  loss  of  trade, 
remember  the  toils  and  labors  of  their  forefathers,  and 
blush  when  they  repine  at  fancied  miseries.  If  it  did 
not  move  our  derision,  it  would  excite  the  sharpest  anger, 
to  hear  the  difficulties  we  now  sustain,  mentioned  with  a 
complaining  regret.  Good  God  !  Consider  my  fellow- 
citizens,  what  you  are  struggling  for  —  consider  what 
you  oppose,  and  what  you  seek  !  In  defending  your  fair 
inheritance,  it  is  impossible  for  you  to  suffer  half  the 
pains  and  sorrows  your  pious  ancestors  bore,  in  the  ar 
duous  acquisition." 

Mr.  Quincy  continued  to  write  for  the  Gazette,  adopt 
ing  various  signatures,  as  fancy  or  circumstances  might 
induce  him  to  change.  Many  of  his  productions  it 
would  be  difficult  to  identify.  In  the  Gazette  of  No 
vember  25,  1771,  there  is  a  piece  signed  "  Hyperion," 
which,  from  the  style,  as  wrell  as  from  the  fact  that  he  had 
formerly  written  under  the  same  signature,  may  be  attri 
buted  to  Mr.  Quincy.  It  is  addressed  "  To  the  man, 
whom  Conscience  forbids  to  style  my  Governor."  The 
annexed  paragraph  is  a  specimen  of  its  serious  admoni 
tion  :  — 

Are  riches  the  desire  of  your  eyes  ?  In  the  right  hand  of  wisdom 
and  virtue  are  riches,  yea,  durable  riches  and  pleasures  forevermore. 
Does  power  inflame  your  ambition  ?  Consider  you  can  be  but  a  sub 
ordinate  ruler ;  you  must  please  a  master,  or  be  at  last  "  dismissed  and 
punished,"  let  the  denunciation  seem  as  grating  to  you  as  it  will ;  and 
who  so  great,  so  powerful,  or  so  honorable  a  master,  as  the  King  of  kings, 
who  requires  you,  on  pain  of  his  highest  displeasure,  to  govern  this  great 
people  as  one  that  must  give  an  account  ?  The  meanest  peasant  is  as 
much  the  darling  of  heaven  as  the  finest  courtier.  Is  a  good  conscience 
a  most  cordial  companion  through  life,  and  a  comforting  stay  to  the 


EDES    AND    GILL.  ]  85 

soul,  when,  sublunary  things  receding,  the  DIVINITY  enlarges  upon  the 
mind  1  This  is  only  to  be  maintained  in  doing  unto  others,  as,  by  change 
of  circumstances,  you  wish  them  to  do  unto  you.  A  timely  check  to  the 
rabies  dominandi,  which  early  infected  your  mind,  would  have  secured 
you  all  these.  But,  alas !  such  a  conquest  as  this  was  too  hard  for  a 
stripling,  who  early  confessed  he  had  sucked  prerogative  milk,  and  ob 
served  it  would  never  be  good  times  till  the  landed  interest  was  got  into  few 
hands. 

An  article  signed  "  Calisthenes,"  in  the  Gazette  of 
February  10,  1772,  was  written  by  Mr.  Quincy.  It  is  a 
severe  and  bitter  rebuke  to  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  for  postponing  the  sentence  of  the  law  upon  a 
criminal,  who  had  been  legally  convicted  of  murder. 
The  delay  of  judgement  and  execution  is  attributed  to 
political  favoritism.  The  criminal  had  then  been  in 
gaol  twenty-two  months.  "  Twenty-two  months  im 
prisonment  for  a  capital  crime,  (says  Calisthenes,)  in  a 
tormenting  suspense  between  life  and  death,  is  what  no 
man,  undeserving  of  death,  ought  to  bear.  Either  the 
laws  want  mending,  or  the  ministers  of  justice  want 
something  else.  ...  Is  Richardson  kept  in  gaol  in 
order  to  recommend  him  to  mercy  ?  The  honor  of  ma 
gistracy  ought  openly  to  avow  it ;  —  the  wisdom  of 
recommenders  ought  to  justify  it.  A  secret,  cunning- 
like  conduct,  in  persons  of  judicial  characters,  is  base, 
odious,  and  execrable.  It  is  base,  because  little :  odious, 
because  wicked  :  execrable,  because  destructive  of  social 
security  and  happiness.  .  .  .  Prisoners  have  their 
rights,  as  well  as  other  men.  COMPLAINT  is  THE  PRE 
ROGATIVE  OF  THE  INJURED.  No  order  of  men  are  too 
high  to  be  called  upon,  —  too  honest  to  exclude  suspi 
cion,  —  too  pure  to  be  tempted,  —  too  powerful  to  be 
amesned  to  the  tribunal  of  the  public,  and  punished  by  — 
THE  PEOPLE.  Remember  this  important  truth  :  What 
16* 


186        BOSTON    GAZETTE    AND    COUNTRY    JOURNAL. 

is  law  for  a  Richardson,  is  law  for  a  SIDNEY.  If  op 
pression  is  warranted  by  law,  the  PATRIOT  is  much  more 
likely  to  fall  a  victim,  than  the  pimp  and  pander.  HAMP- 
DENS  will  stain  the  scaffold  with  blood,  while  a  robber  or 
murderer  finds  a  city  of  refuge.  No  tyranny  so  severe, 
none  so  intolerable,  none  so  dangerous,  none  so  remedi 
less,  as  that  of  EXECUTIVE  COURTS." 

In  the  Gazette  of  June  7,  1772,  is  the  first  of  a  se 
ries  of  papers  by  Mr.  Quincy;  under  the  signature  of 
"  MARCHMONT  NEDHAM."  It  begins  as  follows  :  — - 

"  The  serpent,  subtlest  beast  of  all  the  field." 

I  scarce  ever  inspected  the  face  of  Mr.  H.  [Hutchinson]  or  considered 
his  conduct  in  public  and  private  life,  but  some  passage  of  my  beloved 
Milton  came  to  my  mind :  And  however  "  doubtful  or  equivocal "  his  be 
havior  may  appear  to  the  gullable  and  gaping,  he  is  easily  kenned  and 
seen  through  by  the  sagacious  and  penetrating.  Worldly  policy  and 
serpentine  insinuation  have,  in  general,  been  his  characteristics.  These 
have  so  often  served  his  turn,  and  a  dolt  must  become  so  considerable 
an  adult  by  practice,  that  when  he  obviously  stumbles  out  of  his  com 
mon  track,  I  suspect  he  is  ridden  by  a  superannuated  driver,  or  urged  on 
by  one,  who  has  been  a  blunderer  from  the  beginning. 

The  act  of  Governor  Hutchinson,  which  was  the 
occasion  of  the  attack  upon  him  in  this  paper,  was  his 
convening  the  General  Court  at  Cambridge  instead  of 
Boston,  under  pretence  that  "  it  was,  in  many  respects, 
very  inconvenient  for  the  sitting  to  be  held  in  Boston." 
The  House  of  Representatives  had  earnestly  requested 
"  a  removal  to  Boston,  as  a  matter  of  the  greatest  public 
advantage." 

Several  messages  passed,  on  this  occasion  between  the 
House  of  Representatives  and  the  Governor.  In  one  of 
them  the  Governor  said  —  "I  must  govern  myself  by 
the  measure  not  of  your  understanding  but  my  own. 
What  appears  to  you  to  be  sufficiently  plain,  appears  to 


EDES    AND    GILL.  187 

me  to  be  doubtful  and  equivocal.  So  in  complying  with 
your  desire,  founded  upon  this  among  other  reasons,  I 
should  or  should  not  conform  to  the  instructions  of  the 
King,  whose  servant  I  am.  As  reserved  as  you  have 
been  in  your  answer  to  my  message,  I  will  be  unre 
served  and  open  with  you.'  Whilst  you  dispute  the  au 
thority  by  which  I  at  first  removed  the  court  from  Bos 
ton,  I  do  not  intend  to  carry  it  thither  again." 

"  Lelius,"  a  writer  in  the  Massachusetts  Gazette, 
(which  was  the  official  organ  of  the  Governor)  under 
took  to  defend  the  Governor,  and  complained  that  he 
was  assailed  in  the  "  language  of  a  porter ;  "  to  which 
"  Nedham  "  replies,  —  "  This  writer  ought  tp  know  that 
propriety  of  language  must  be  determined  by  a  joint 
consideration  of  the  sentiment  to  be  conveyed,  the  per 
son  addressed,  and  him,  who  is  spoken  of.  Now,  when 
the  sentiment  of  the  heart  is  justly  abhorrent  of  the  tur 
pitude  of  the  culprit,  the  language  of  the  lips  ought  to 
be  expressive  of  the  feelings.  Hence  it  is  becoming  the 
man,  who  acts  from  principle,  to  treat  all  villains  with 
words  and  actions  correspondent  to  their  crimes.  This 
alone  ought  to  silence  one  half  the  clamors  made  about 
civility  and  politeness  to  dignified  knaves  and  robbers. 
FACT  is  a  test  of  just  sentiment.  TRUTH  is  an  eternal 
standard  of  propriety  in  language." 

The  following  is  from  a  subsequent  number  of  these 
essays :  — 

An  elevated  oppressor  may  make  a  trade  for  life  of  his  oppression, 
and  there  may  be  none  found  to  detect,  or  of  ability  to  punish :  he  may, 
by  betraying  the  interests  of  a  single  town,  make  his  way  to  a  station 
more  fitted  for  the  destruction  of  a  province:  the  fall  of  a  province 
may  give  a  rise  sufficient  for  accomplishing  the  sacrifice  of  a  new 
world:  the  reign  of  a  tyrant — (shame  to  the  morals  and  virtue  of 


188        BOSTON    GAZETTE    AND    COUNTRY    JOURNAL. 

man !  )  —  is  seldom  thought  a  time  for  complaint,  conviction,  or  punish 
ment.  Thousands  become  interested  to  obey ;  thousands  to  serve  ; 
thousands  to  protect :  the  few  discern,  the  many  gaze,  and  the  tamest 
tremble  :  The  deceivers  and  deceived,  the  oppressors  and  the  oppressed, 
make  so  great  a  part  of  the  community,  that  the  wise  and  good,  the 
noble  and  brave,  are  often  crushed  and  overwhelmed  in  the  general  ca 
lamity.  Every  sensible  man  knows  that  this  is  not  a  time  to  review  or 
display  in  a  true  light,  Mr.  Hutchinson's  whole  conduct.  Our  business 
is  to  take  such  parts  of  his  administration,  as  we  may  treat  with  wisdom 
and  safety ;  to  form  a  proper  estimate  of  the  man  from  his  more  open 
operations,  and  draw  that  useful  knowledge,  which  may  serve  to  coun 
teract  or  defeat  his  more  secret,  but  not  less  dangerous  and  desperate  mach 
inations. 

I  have  known  this  gentleman  a  selectman  of  the  town,  a  representa 
tive,  and  a  counselor.  I  have  seen  him  sit  in  judgement,  heard  his 
speeches  and  his  charges,  and  have  now  lived  to  see  him  in  the  chair  of 
government.  I  have  attended  and  marked  him,  and  think  I  know  him. 
As  an  individual,  having  never  received  any  private  injury  from  him,  I 
bear  him  no  enmity.  As  far  as  he  is  an  adversary  of  my  native  country, 
I  am  his  foe.  Disappointed  ambition  (of  which  we  have  sometimes 
heard)  has  not  moved  me ;  for  I  never  had  an  ambition,  which  Mr.  H. 
had  an  opportunity  to  gratify;  and,  at  my  present  time  of  life,  and 
health,  I  ought  to  feel  no  higher  ambition,  than  that  of  fulfilling  the 
more  important  duties.  Being  advanced  in  age  and  infirmity,  I  wish 
to  see  my  country  free  and  happy ;  that  my  children  may  partake  as 
fair  an  inheritance  as  I  have  received.  These  and  similar  motives 
actuate  me  in  my  present  works,  and,  I  hope,  will  lead  me  to  those  pur 
suits  and  labors,  which  may  render  the  small  residue  of  my  days  profit 
able  to  my  species,  to  whom  I  bear  much  affection. 

Believe  me,  my  countrymen,  that  a  love  to  the  human  race  is  a  moral 
and  religious  duty.  It  is  a  great,  and  too  successful,  art,  which  is  often 
practised,  to  disseminate  an  aversion  of  man  to  man.  More  of  this 
seed  is  sown,  and  more  evils  spring  from  it,  than  is  generally  appre 
hended.  Disunion  inevitably  succeeds  this  aversion,  till  the  divided 
many  fall  an  easy  prey  to  the  contracted  yew.  For  this  infernal  purpose, 
the  execrable  WALPOLB  propagated  his  accursed  maxim  — "  EVERT 
MAN  HAS  HIS  PRICE."  For  similar  purposes  the  servile  imitators  of 
that  odious  prostitute  have  continued  to  inculcate  like  principles  and 
doctrines  ;  and,  whether  caroled  at  a  noisy  riot  or  retailed  in  Draper's 
paper,  the  same  object  is  still  ultimately  in  view,  —  To  destroy  all  faith 
and  confidence  among  men,  that  the  subtle  and  rapacious  may  sooner 
subjugate  the  poor  and  innocent.  This  is  the  true  leading  plan  of  the  rich 


EDES    AND    GILL.  189 

and  powerful ;  —  a  plan,  that  levels  virtue  with  vice,  benevolence  with 
selfishness,  and  all  that  is  good  and  great  with  all  which  is  vile  and 
despicable.  To  oppose  a  project  so  pregnant  of  every  moral  and  polit 
ical  evil,  is  a  common  duty.  He,  who  sneers  at  all  public  virtue,  and 
denies  or  ridicules  the  supposed  existence  of  all  affection  for  mankind, 
betrays  that  turpitude  of  heart,  which  characterized  Satan  in  the  garden 
of  Eden:  —  he  ought  to  be  avoided  as  a  pestilence.  Cultivate  an 
affection  for  each  other,  and  for  the  world  ;  and  let  this  love  be  fervent, 
and  it  will  do  mighty  works.  Oppose  with  bitterness  all,  who  go  about 
to  disunite  the  members  of  that  great  body  —  THE  MULTITUDE.  I  bless 
GOD  that,  in  early  youth,  I  considered  all  men  as  my  brethren :  and 
now,  in  the  decline  of  life,  if  I  have  one  prominent  desire,  next  to  the 
plaudit  of  my  CREATOR  and  my  conscience,  it  is,  that  of  having  THE 
MANY  to  arise  and  call  me  blessed. 

In  the  Gazette  of  December  20,  is  the  first  number  of  a 
series  entitled  "  Nedham's  Remembrancer,"  intended  as  a 
supplement  to  the  papers  already  noticed.  This  was  a 
few  days  after  the  destruction  of  the  tea  in  the  harbor. 
In  allusion  to  that  proceeding,  the  writer  says  —  "  The 
PEOPLE  have  been  mild  and  considerate  ;  they  have  been 
temperate  and  patient.  When  their  mildness  was  called 
timidity,  and  their  consideration  want  of  courage,  they 
did  not  cease  to  reason  and  entreat.  When  their  tem 
perance  was  treated  with  insult,  and  their  patience  with 
contempt,  they  felt  the  injury,  though  they  stayed  their 
vengeance.  When  the  situation  of  public  affairs  called 
them  to  resolve  upon  their  danger  and  duty,  they  were 
unanimous  and  determined  ;  and  when  the  exigency  of 
the  times  increased,  and  resolutions  alone  were  vain,  they 
proceeded  to  action  with  order  and  discretion ;  and  exe 
cuted  the  only  remaining  duty,  without  unnecessary  out 
rage  and  intemperate  revenge." 

The  same  paper  contains  the  publishers'  account  of 
the  throwing  overboard  of  the  tea.  After  a  brief  re 
capitulation  of  the  proceedings  at  the  several  town-meet- 


190         BOSTON  GAZETTE   AND  COUNTRY  JOURNAL. 

ings,  at  which  every  possible  endeavor  to  induce  the 
consignees  to  take  the  teas  back  to  London  had  been 
made,  the  record  proceeds  — "  The  people,  finding  all 
their  efforts  to  preserve  the  property  of  the  East-India 
Company  and  return  it  safely  to  London,  frustrated  by 
the  consignees,  the  collector  of  the  customs,  and  the 
governor  of  the  province,  DISSOLVED  their  meeting.  — 
But,  BEHOLD  what  followed  !  A  number  of  brave  and 
resolute  men,  determined  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  save 
their  country  from  the  ruin,  which  their  enemies  had 
plotted,  in  less  than  four  hours,  emptied  every  chest  of 
Tea  on  board  the  three  ships  commanded  by  Captains 
Hall,  Bruce,  and  Coffin,  amounting  to  324  chests,  into 
the  sea  ! !  without  the  least  damage  done  to  the"  ships  or 
any  other  property.  The  masters  and  owners  are  well 
pleased  that  their  ships  are  thus  cleared  ;  and  the  peo 
ple  are  almost  universally  congratulating  each  other  on 
this  happy  event." 

This  series  of  "  Nedham's  Remembrancer,"  extended 
to  seven  numbers.  The  following  are  disconnected  ex 
tracts  :  — 

Think  on  thy  country, 

And  die  in  terror  of  thy  guiltiness. 

Politically  speaking,  the  crime  of  betraying  one's  country  is  —  the 
unpardonable  sin.  No  guilt  more  deeply  poisons  the  heart  and  embit 
ters  reflection.  What  pangs  must  swell  the  breast  of  a  man,  in  the 
close  of  life,  who  looks  back  and  sees  himself  laboring  to  abridge  the 
liberties  of  his  country,  enslaving  its  inhabitants,  and  procuring  the 
introduction  of  troops,  which  insult  the  civil  magistrate,  and  shed  the 
blood  of  his  brethren  ?  What  and  how  exquisite  must  be  his  feelings, 
when  he  hears  young  and  old  imprecate  vengeance  on  his  hoary  head, 
and  sees  his- name  and  progeny  blasted- with  execrations  and  infamy ! 

Jan.  10,  1774. 

Meet  it  is  I  here  set  down, 

That  one  may  smz7e,  and  smile  and  be  a  VILLAIN  ! 


EDES    AND    GILL.  191 

And,  with  this  visage,  sugar  o'er 

THE  DEVIL  HIMSELF. 

Subterfuge  and  evasion  are  the  true  characteristics  of  a  little  mind ; 
and  so  are  falsehood  and  cowardice.  Such  artifices  are  but  temporary 
expedients  which  great  souls  scorn  to  use ;  like  base  coin  they  may  pass 
currently  with  the  ignorant  and  incautious  for  a  time,  but  the  cheat  is 
soon  discovered,  and  the  impostor  is  punished  and  remains  infamous 
for  life.  Thus  he,  who  practises  the  low  arts  of  political  cunning,  will, 
in  the  end,  be  detected,  and  sink  into  contempt,  unless  his  crimes  and 
his  station  consign  him  to  an  exemplary  punishment  and  everlasting 
infamy.  Jan.  17,  1774. 

These  objurgatory  passages  are  introductory  to  ani 
madversions  on  the  conduct  of  Governor  Hutcbinson, 
most  tremendously  severe  and  biting.  That,  which  fol 
lows,  is  the  conclusion  of  the  whole  series  :  — 

Thus  have  I  considered  Mr.  Hutchinson  as  degrading  the  highest 
station  in  the  law  to  the  lowest  office  of  the  inquisition ;  as  descending 
from  the  rank  of  CHIEF  JUSTICE  to  that  of  a  COMMON  INFORMER  : 
an  informer  against  "  particular  persons  and  the  province  in  general : " 
—  yes,  —  the  dark  assassin  of  private  characters  and  HIS  NATIVE  COUN 
TRY. 

Convinced,  as  I  am,  that  Governor  Hutchinson,  in  defiance  of  every 
principle  of  right,  every  sentiment  of  honor  and  gratitude  ;  convinced, 
I  say,  that  HE  is  the  first,  the  most  malignant  and  insatiable  enemy  of 
my  country ;  —  that  he  is  the  chief  author  and  supporter  of  the  severest 
calamities  under  which  this  people  labor  j  —  convinced  that  he  has  done 
more  general  mischiefs,  and  committed  greater  public  crimes,  than  his 
life  can  repair  or  his  death  satisfy ;  —  and  that  he  is  the  man,  against 
whom  the  blood  of  my  slaughtered  brethren  cries  from  the  ground  ;  I 
have,  and  shall,  as  strength  is  given  me,  pursue  him.  And  if,  at  this 
time  of  life,  I  am  too  old  for  an  AVENGER  OF  BLOOD,  I  am  also  too 
young  to  desert  the  service  of  my  country.  But  it  may  be  profitable 
now  to  leave  him  to  the  reflections  of  his  own  conscience — the  anguish 
of  a  departing  spirit.  And  if  he  be  not  speedily  called  to  the  great  bar 
of  the  universe,  perad venture  I  shall  once  more  call  him — but  with  no 
friendly  voice  —  to  the  highest,  the  most  terrible,  tribunal  on  earth ;  — 
the  tribunal  of  his  injured  countrymen. 

Addressing  to  the  contemplations  of  his  pillow,  I  close,  for  the  pres 
ent,  with  the  words  of  a  favorite  author :  — 


192         BOSTON  GAZETTE  AND  COUNTRY  JOURNAL. 

You  have  lived  long  enough ;  your  way  of  life 
Is  fallen  into  the  sear,  the  yellow  leaf, 
And  that  which  should  accompany  old  age, 
As  honor,  love,  obedience,  troops  of  friends, 
You  must  not  look  to  have  :    But,  in  their  stead, 
CURSES,  BOTH  LOUD  AND  DEEP. 

MARCHMONT  NEDHAM. 

This  is  supposed  to  be  the  last  article  written  by  Mr. 
Quincy,  for  publication.  He  went  to  England,  soon 
after,  on  account  of  ill  health.  In  March,  1 775,  he  set 
out  on  his  return.  "  On  the  20th  of  April,  within  sight 
of  that  beloved  country,  which  he  was  not  permitted  to 
reach,  he  expired.  A  few  hours  after  his  death,  the 
ship,  with  his  lifeless  remains,  entered  the  harbor  of 
Gloucester,  Cape  Ann."  * 

The  writers  for  the  Gazette,  for  several  years  which 
preceded  the  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  were 
numerous,  bold,  fearless,  and  patriotic.  Several  volumes 
might  be  filled  with  their  productions, — inculcating  the 
principles  of  civil  and  religious  freedom,  and  exposing 
the  hypocrisy  and  knavery  of  their  rulers,  and  the  agents 
of  the  government.  One  united  spirit  of  hostility  to  the 
arbitrary  exercise  of  power  and  prerogative  pervaded 
their  minds,  and  each  seemed  strengthened  and  invigo 
rated  by  contact  with  another.  It  is  to  be  lamented 
that  so  few  of  these  interesting  and  important  papers  can 
now  be  appropriately  assigned  to  their  respective  au 
thors.  If  the  writers  of  the  papers  signed  "  Vindex," 
"  A  Military  Countryman,"  "  A  Bostonian,"  (Letters  to 
Sir  Francis  Bernard,)  "  Candidus,"  "  Fervidus,"  &c., 
could  now  be  ascertained,  their  names  might  pass  to  pos- 

*  Memoir  of  Josiah  duincy,  jun.,  by  Josiah  Quincy,  p.  348. 


EDES    AND    GILL.  193 

terity  with  honors  like  those  attached  to  the  names  of 
Otis,*  Quincy,  and  the  Adamses. 

The  closing  of  the  harbor  of  Boston,  by  an  act  of  the 
British  Parliament  known  as  The  Boston  Port  Bill, 
furnished  the  writers  in  the  Gazette  with  a  subject  for  many 
columns  of  animadversion,  and  they  availed  themselves 
of  the  opportunity  to  address  their  countrymen  in  lan 
guage,  that  could  not  fail  to  stir  up  all  the  spirit  of 
patriotism. 

In  May,  1774,  Governor  Hutchinson  was  superseded 
by  General  Gage,  and  an  attempt  was  made  by  Parlia 
ment  to  change  the  organization  of  the  government  of 
the  province.  The  act  provided  that  the  counselors  — 
twenty-eight  in  number  —  hitherto  chosen  by  the  General 
Court  —  should  thereafter  be  appointed  by  the  king. 
This  act  excited  such  general  and  violent  opposition, 
that  many  of  the  counselors,  thus  appointed,  resigned,  or 
declined  to  accept  the  office.  The  proceedings  of  the 
inhabitants  of  several  towns  in  the  county  of  Worcester, 
assembled  at  Rutland,  will  give  an  idea  of  the  prevalent 
feeling  on  this  subject.  It  is  stated  in  the  Gazette  of 
September  5,  that  the  assembly  was  composed  of  up 
wards  of  a  thousand  persons,  who  intended  to  wait  on 
John  Murray,  Esq.  of  Rutland,  "  in  order  to  converse 
with  him  upon  his  new  and  unconstitutional  appointment 
and  acceptance  as  a  counselor,"  but  to  their  disappoint 
ment,  they  found  that  on  the  preceding  evening  he  had 
been  apprized  of  their  intention,  and  had  absconded 

*  Although  it  is  known  that  Otis  was  a  frequent  writer  for  the  newspapers,  and 
one  of  the  most  ardent  Whigs  of  his  day,  I  believe  that  no  one  has  attempted  to 
identify  the  articles  that  came  from  his  pen,  except  a  few  in  the  early  volumes  of 
the  Gazette,  which  are  signed  with  his  name.  Many  of  the  Massachusetts  State 
Papers  were  of  his  composition.  See  Tutor's  Life  of  Otis. 

17 


194    BOSTON  GAZETTE  AND  COUNTRY  JOURNAL. 

from  his  dwelling.     The  people  retired,  after  directing  a 

committee  to  leave  the  following  notice  with  his  family  : 

To  John  Murray,  Esq. 

Rutland,  August  27,  1774. 
SIR, 

As  you  have  proved  yourself  to  be  an  open  enemy  to  this  pro 
vince  by  your  late  conduct  in  general,  and  in  particular  in  accepting  the 
late  appointment  as  an  unconstitutional  counselor;  in  consequence 
whereof  a  large  number  of  men  from  several  towns  are  assembled,  who 
are  fully  determined  to  prevent  your  holding  said  office  as  Counselor, 
at  the  risque  of  our  lives  and  fortunes ;  and  not  finding  you  at  home, 
think  proper  to  propose  to  your  serious  consideration  the  following,  viz. 
That  you  make  an  immediate  resignation  of  your  office  as  a  Counselor. 
Your  compliance  as  above,  published  in  each  of  the  Boston  News- 
Prints  by  the  Tenth  Day  of  September  next,  will  save  the  People  of 
this  County  the  Trouble  of  waiting  on  you  immediately  afterwards. 
In  the  name  and  Behalf  of  the  whole  Assembly  now  present. 

WILLARD  MOORE, 
Chairman  of  a  Committee 

chosen  for  the  Purposes  aforesaid. 

It  is  not  known  whether  Mr.  Murray  complied  with 
the  requisition,  nor  do  I  find  any  account  of  further  pro 
ceedings  in  his  case  :  But  several  of  the  Counselors 
did  resign  their  offices,  and  gave  public  notice  of  their 
resignation,  after  the  following  fashion :  — 

Sturbridge,  August  25,  1774. 

Whereas  I,  ABIJAH  WILLARD  of  Lancaster,  have  been  appointed  by 
mandamus  a  Counselor  for  this  province,  and  have  without  due  Con 
sideration  taken  the  Oath,  do  now  freely  and  solemnly  declare  that  I 
am  heartily  sorry  that  I  have  taken  the  said  Oath,  and  do  hereby  sol 
emnly  and  in  good  faith  promise  and  engage  that  I  will  not  sit  or  act 
in  said  Council,  nor  in  any  other  that  shall  be  appointed  in  such  man 
ner  and  form ;  but  that  I  will,  as  much  as  in  me  lies,  maintain  the 
Charter  Rights  and  Liberties  of  this  Province,  and  do  hereby  ask  for 
giveness  of  all  the  honest,  worthy  Gentlemen  that  I  have  offended  by 
taking  the  abovesaid  Oath,  and  desire  this  may  be  inserted  in  the  public 
Prints. 

Witness  my  Hand, 

ABIJAH  WILLARD. 


EDES    AND    GILL.  195 

Many  of  the  Sheriffs  and  their  Deputies  refused  to 
perform  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices,  and  Jurors 
in  several  counties  refused  to  be  sworn  ;  but  a  notice  in 
detail  of  their  resignations,  protests,  and  recantations, 
and  prayers  to  be  forgiven,  would  be  sufficient  to  form  a 
separate  history.  The  number  of  those,  who  solicited 
from  their  fellow-citizens  forgiveness  for  having  signed  a 
complimentary  address  to  Governor  Hutchinson  on  his 
leaving  the  country  was  not  inconsiderable.  A  single 
specimen  must  suffice :  — 

To  the  PUBLIC. 

Amidst  the  various  enjoyments  of  Human  Life,  none  affords  me 
greater  satisfaction  than  the  Society  and  Esteem  of  my  Fellow-Men, 
which  I  find  I  have  in  a  great  measure  lost,  hy  signing  an  Address  to 
the  late  Governor  Hutchinson  :  And  had  I  the  least  suspicion  that  the 
said  Address  would  have  given  such  general  Discontent,  it  should  not 
have  had  my  name  to  it.  I  am  heartily  sorry  for  the  offence  it  has 
occasioned,  and  I  do  hereby  renounce  said  Address  in  all  Respects,  and 
beg  the  Forgiveness  of  the  Public,  and  to  be  reinstated  in  their  Favor, 
assuring  them  that  none  shall  be  foremost  in  the  Defence  of  the  Liber 
ties  and  Privileges  of  their  Country,  both  civil  and  religious,  than  their 
humble  servant,  JOHN  WEBB. 

Marblehead,  Sept.  4. 

All  these  things  prepared  the  people  for  open  and 
organized  resistance  to  the  acts  of  the  British  Govern 
ment.  The  General  Court  met  at  Salem  on  the  5th  of 
October,  agreeably  to  a  writ  issued  by  the  Governor, 
and  after  waiting  two  days  without  receiving  any  com 
munication  from  him,  resolved  itself  into  a  Provincial 
Congress,  and  adjourned  to  meet  in  Concord  on  the  llth 
of  the  same  month.  The  proceedings  of  this  body, 
which  are  given  at  large  in  the  Gazette,  are  full  of  inter 
est,  and  should  be  studied  by  every  one  who  seeks  for 


196         BOSTON  GAZETTE  AND  COUNTRY  JOURNAL. 

an  acquaintance  with  the  political  and  civil  history  of 
the  country. 

In  the  Spring  of  1775,  the  town  of  Boston  being  in 
possession  of  the  British  troops,  Edes  contrived  to  evade 
the  vigilance  of  their  guards,  and  went  to  Watertown, 
with  an  old  press  and  one  or  two  imperfect  founts  of 
type.  Here  he  continued  to  print  the  Boston  Gazette. 
Owing  to  the  difficulty  of  procuring  paper  and  ink,  of  a 
decent  quality,  the  paper,  during  the  whole  period  of  its 
publication  in  this  place,  was  but  a  poor  specimen  of 
printing.  The  Provincial  Congress  was  then  sitting  at 
Watertown  ;  and  the  Gazette  is  chiefly  filled  with  the 
proceedings  of  that  body,  and  of  the  Continental  Con 
gress,  which  was  sitting  at  Philadelphia. 

Soon  after  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British 
troops,  Edes  returned  to  the  town.  The  partnership  of 
Edes  &  Gill  was  dissolved,  and  the  Gazette  was  con 
tinued  by  Edes  and  his  two  sons,  Benjamin  and  Peter. 
He  persevered  in  his  patriotic  career,  with  all  the  talent 
he  possessed,  and  with  as  much  ardor  as  ever.  But  the 
number  of  his  contributors  was  much  diminished,  and 
those,  which  remained,  lacked  the  brilliancy,  the  elo 
quence,  and  the  fire,  which  gave  character  and  energy 
to  the  productions  of  Otis,  Quincy,  Warren,  and  the 
Adamses.  By  a  violent  and  ruffianly  assault,  Otis  had 
been  disabled  from  writing  ;  Quincy  had  fallen  a  pre 
mature  victim  to  disease  ;  Warren  had  been  sacrificed  on 
Bunker-Hill ;  John  Adams  was  busy  in  the  public  ser 
vice,  and  Samuel  Adams,  if  he  continued  to  write  for 
the  press,  —  as  he  doubtless  did,  though  probably  less 
frequently  than  formerly,  —  was  much  and  laboriously 
engaged  in  the  performance  of  duties  devolved  upon  him 


EJDES    AND    SONS.  197 

by  the  state.  Though  the  Gazette  was  occasionally 
enriched  by  powerful  communications,  it  was  not  what 
it  had  been.  During  the  Revolutionary  War  its  conduct 
ors  were  faithful  and  prompt  in  collecting  and  publishing 
intelligence,  and  the  Gazette  may  now  be  examined  with 
advantage  by  all,  who  wish  to  read  a  narrative  of  the 
stirring  events  of  that  period  in  its  freshest  and  most 
touching  aspect. 

The  General  Court,  at  its  winter  session  in  1785, 
passed  an  act  laying  a  duty  of  "  two  thirds  of  a  penny  " 
on  every  newspaper  and  almanack  that  might  be  pub 
lished.  It  excited  strong  opposition.  The  name  of 
Stamp  Act  was  offensive  to  the  people.  Edes  came  out 
boldly  in  opposition  to  the  measure.  At  the  succeeding 
session  the  act  was  so  modified  as  to  lay  the  tax  on 
advertisements.  This  gave  no  better  satisfaction  than 
the  original  law,  and  a  writer  in  the  Gazette,  under 
the  signature  of  "  The  Printer's  Friend,"  sustained 
the  opposition  with  considerable  force  of  argument. 
Here  is  one  of  Edes's  articles,  which  evinces  rather  an 
ingenious  mode  of  evading  the  penalty  of  the  law  :  — 

The  sixteenth  article  of  our  Bill  of  Rights  says  "  The  Liberty  of  the 
Press  is  essential  to  the  security  of  Freedom  in  a  State  :  It  ought  not 
therefore  to  be  restrained  in  this  commonwealth." 

While  the  papers  of  the  other  states  are  crowded  with  advertisements, 
(free  of  duty)  those  of  this  state  are  almost  destitute  thereof;  which 
justly  occasions  the  oppressed  printers  of  those  shackled  presses  to 
make  their  separate  complaints,  as  many  do,  owing  to  their  being  pro 
hibited  advertising  in  their  own  papers  their  own  Books  and  Stationery 
without  incurring  a  penalty  therefor.  We,  for  the  same  reason  that  our 
brother  Typographers  use,  forbear  publishing  that  Bibles,  Testaments, 
Psalters,  Spelling -Books,  Primers,  Almanacks,  Sfc.  besides  Stationery  and 
all  kinds  of  Blanks,  may  be  had  at  No.  42,  Cornhill. 

The  duty  on  advertisements  also  prevents  our  publishing  that  we 
have  lately  reprinted  an  excellent  moral  Discourse,  entitled,  "The 
17* 


193    BOSTON  GAZETTE  AND  COUNTRY  JOURNAL. 

Shortness  and  Afflictions  of  Human  Life  illustrated,"  for  the  price  of 
said  book  being  but  eight  pence,  it  will  take  away  the  profits  of  too 
many ;  and  perhaps  encourage  government  to  continue  this  burthen." 

From  the  first  of  July,  1794,  till  its  discontinuance, 
the  Gazette  was  published  by  Benjamin  Edes,  senior, 
alone,  both  sons  having  previously  left  the  concern. 
The  day  of  its  popularity,  and,  consequently,  that  of  its 
prosperity,  was  past.  Differences  of  opinion,  concern 
ing  public  measures,  had  weakened  old  associations  and 
contributed  to  the  organization  of  new  parties.  Edes 
and  some  of  his  correspondents  were  opposed  to  the 
constitution  for  the  United  States,  as  prepared  by  the 
Convention  of  1787,  and  expressed  their  disapprobation 
of  some  of  its  features,  in  terms  of  great  bitterness  ;  and 
when  it  was  finally  adopted,  the  federal  administration 
was  treated  with  contumely  and  abuse.  They  were 
ardent  friends  of  the  French  Revolution,  and  justified, 
to  the  fullest  extent,  most  of  the  proceedings  of  whatever 
party  gained  or  held  ascendency  in  Paris.  Thus  they 
became  identified  with  the  Jacobin  societies,  that  were 
formed  in  our  country  ;  and  as  their  sympathies  for 
France  were  excited,  their  animosity  to  England  gained 
strength.  The  Federalists,  —  then  the  dominant  party 
in  the  United  States,  —  or,  at  least  in  New-England, — 
were  accused  of  subserviency  to  Great-Britain,  and  ingrat 
itude  towards  France.  The  policy  of  the  federal  ad 
ministration  was  condemned  ;  and  though  Washington 
and  his  acts  were  spoken  of  with  some  degree  of  defer 
ence, —  apparently  with  unwilling  respect, —  Adams 
and  Hamilton  were  treated  with  savage  ferocity,  as 
aristocrats  and  monarchists.  The  funding  system  was 
the  constant  theme  of  abuse,  from  those  who  believed, 


BENJAMIN    EDES.  199 

or  pretended  to  believe,  that  the  government  was  in  the 
hands  of  men,  who  were  willing  to  sacrifice  public  honor 
and  public  faith  to  private  speculation  and  emolument. 

Jay's  treaty  was  another  topic  of  angry  discussion  be 
tween  the  federal  and  republican  parties.  Edes  and  his 
assistants  opposed  it  with  all  the  vigor  and  vituperation 
that  political  ferocity  could  invent  or  exercise.  But  in 
all  this,  the  Gazette  was  only  playing  a  second  part. 
The  Chronicle  was  the  accredited  organ  of  the  Repub 
lican,  or  anti-federal  party,  and  had  the  aid  of  several 
writers  of  great  ability,  among  whom  was  one,  —  Ben 
jamin  Austin,  jun.  —  who,  as  a  popular  writer,  was  equal 
to  any  one  that  ever  undertook  to  support  and  vindicate 
that  party.  Several  attempts  were  made  by  Edes  and 
his  Sons,  —  by  appeals  to  public  sympathy  and  justice, 
—  to  keep  up  the  credit  of  the  Gazette,  and  to  secure  a 
larger  share  of  the  public  favor ;  but  without  effect. 
The  symptoms  of  poverty,  which  were  exhibited  in  the 
mechanical  execution,  —  to  say  nothing  of  the  decay  of 
intellectual  power,  plainly  discernible  in  the  original 
matter,  —  foretold  the  fate  that  awaited  it,  and  the  ab 
sence  of  any  redeeming  attribute  in  its  conductors. 

What,  in  its  years  of  decline,  the  Boston  Gazette 
wanted  of  that  soberness  and  dignity,  that  might  have 
rendered  its  old  age  useful  and  respectable,  was  made  up 
in  querulous  complainings  and  bitter  and  vulgar  person 
ality.  No  distinguished  Federalist  escaped  the  abuse, 
which  was  rendered  contemptible  by  its  grossness  and 
vulgarity.  In  1794—5,  a  series  of  papers,  entitled  "  A 
Review  of  the  Jacobiniad,"  appeared  in  the  Federal 
Orrery.  The  authorship  of  these  papers  was  attributed 
to  the  Rev.  J.  S.  J.  Gardiner,  then  the  assistant  minis- 


200        BOSTON    GAZETTE    AND    COUNTRY    JOURNAL. 

ter  of  Trinity  Church.  Assuming  for  a  fact  that  Mr. 
Gardiner  was  the  real  author,  he  became  an  object  on 
which  whole  columns  of  personal  abuse  were  poured. 
The  persons  who  were  the  subjects  of  satire  in  the  Ja- 
cobiniad,  had,  in  truth,  great  provocation,  —  for,  it  must 
be  confessed,  they  were  lampooned  without  mercy, — 
and,  in  return,  they  and  their  political  associates  availed 
themselves  of  the  barrenness  of  the  Boston  Gazette,  to 
repay  their  obligation  with  a  liberal  usury.  Mr.  Gardi 
ner  was  called  a  u  sycophant,"  a  "  scoundrel,"  "  the  su 
percilious  and  bombastic  curate,"  a  "journeyman 
reader,"  a  "  desperado,"  and  other  names  of  reproach, 
too  numerous  to  be  repeated  ;  and  was  accused  of  more 
sins  than  are  forbidden  in  the  Decalogue.  The  reader, 
who  wishes  to  see  what  flowers  were  gathered  in  the 
fields  of  Billingsgate  to  embellish  these  out-pourings  of 
gall,  is  referred  to  the  early  numbers  of  the  Gazette  of 
1795. 

The  evidences  of  poverty  and  destitution  excited 
less  resentment  than  compassion,  for  the  old  veteran  of 
the  revolutionary  press.  One  of  his  touching  appeals  to 
the  sympathy  of  the  public,  was  noticed  by  a  corre 
spondent  of  the  Orrery,  who  proposed  a  plan  for  his  re 
lief, —  "suggested  by  a  genuine  gratitude  to  Mr.  Edes 
for  his  past  devotedness  to  his  country,  and  a  sensibility 
to  his  present  distress."  As  the  age  of  Mr.  Edes  was 
believed  to  incapacitate  him  for  the  active  duties  required 
of  an  editor  of  a  newspaper,  the  proposal  was  that  "  a 
subscription  be  opened  for  him,  of  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  each  subscriber,  annually,  during  Mr.  Edes's  life," 
not  to  enable  him  to  carry  on  the  Gazette,  but  "  bot 
tomed  on  the  consideration  of  his  long,  faithful,  and  im- 


BENJAMIN    EDES.  201 

portant  devotion  to  the  cause  of  his  country,  in  her  most 
arduous  and  perilous  times.  From  some  inquiry,  that  I 
have  made,  (the  writer  adds,)  I  am  confident  that  this 
town  will  give  an  example  of  at  least  four  hundred  vol 
untary  subscribers.  With  such  a  merited  and  generous 
benefit  on  his  last  exhibition,  this  distinguished  typo 
graphic  supporter  of  the  political  drama  may  retire  from 
the  stage,  and,  from  behind  the  scenes,  review  with  sat 
isfaction  his  own  performances  ;  and,  commensurate  with 
his  existence,  enjoy  the  life-supporting  plaudits  of  a 
numerous,  grateful,  and  admiring  auditory." 

It  is  presumed  that  neither  Edes's  appeals  to  the  pub 
lic,  nor  the  suggestions  of  the  writer  in  the  Orrery,  pro 
duced  any  effect ;  for,  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1797, 
he  again  solicited  attention  to  his  forlorn  condition,  as 
follows  :  — 

The  aged  editor  of  the  GAZETTE  to  the  PUBLIC. 

A  few  years  since,  the  misfortunes  and  necessities  of  my  family  in 
duced  me  to  throw  myself  on  the  benevolence  of  that  Public,  to  which, 
as  an  editor  of  a  paper,  I  have  for  upwards  of  forty-one  years  beeu  a 
faithful  servant,  as  far  as  my  abilities  and  the  purity  of  my  principles 
would  enable  me.  I  wish  not  to  boast,  but  a  consciousness  of  the 
integrity  of  my  motives,  and  the  conspicuous  part,  which  I  took  in 
those  perilous  times,  when  not  only  LIBERTY  but  LIFE,  were  suspended 
on  the  issue,  justify  me,  at  this  late  period  of  my  existence,  in  GLORY 
ING  in  those  duties,  which  as  a  citizen  I  was  called  on  to  perform.  The 
Boston  Gazette  was  both  the  Herald  and  the  Centinel,  in  the  days  of 
OTIS,  HANCOCK,  the  ADAMSES,  WARREN,  &c.  while  contending  against 
Britain !  when  their  declaratory  act  was  expressive  of  the  disposition  of 
that  arrogant  nation,  when  they  assumed  a  right  to  "  tax  us  in  all  cases 
whatsoever!"  when  the  streets  of  Boston  were  crimsoned  with  the 
blood  of  our  slaughtered  citizens  !  At  these  all-trying  periods,  did  you, 
my  fellow-citizens,  ever  find  the  Boston  Gazette  deficient  in  a  manly 
and  energetic  remonstrance  against  these  horrid  and  cruel  impositions  ? 
Did  an  OTIS  at  that  time  seek  in  vain  to  declare  his  principles  through 
this  channel  ?  —  or  did  WARREN  unnerve  himself  or  the  cause  of  freedom, 
by  strains  of  submission,  through  this  conveyance  ?  —  No,  fellow-citizens  ; 


202       BOSTON    GAZETTE    AND    COUNTRY    JOURNAL. 

the  Gazette  of  Edes  &  Gill,  was  always  subservient  to  the  cause  of 
Freedom,  and  this  was  the  CLARION,  which  announced  through  the 
continent  the  sentiments  of  your  Patriots.  Soon  expecting  to  quit  this 
world,  for  the  mansions  of  those,  where  honesty  and  integrity  will  be 
rewarded,  by  the  Supreme  Kuler  of  the  Universe,  I  shall  submit  the 
following  simple  statement  of  my  determination  and  situation,  and 
then  resign  myself  to  that  fate  which  Providence  may  allot  me  in  my 
retirement — conscious,  however,  that  I  have  served  my  country  with 
faithfulness,  and  the  most  disinterested  zeal,  I  cannot  but  observe  with 
regret,  that  thousands  have  become  enriched  by  a  base  speculation  on 
those  services  which  have  impoverished  me  and  many  others. 

D^=  The  aged  Editor  of  the  Gazette  presents  the  compliments  of  the 
Season  to  his  generous  Benefactors,  and  invites  all  those  who  have  any 
demands  on  him,  to  call  and  receive  their  dues :  He  likewise  requests 
those  of  his  Customers,  who  are  two,  three,  and  more  years  in  debt,  to 
discharge  their  arrears,  as  he  finds  it  impossible  to  live  upon  the  wind, 
and  promises  equally  uncertain.  By  the  indulgence  of  Providence  he 
is  determined  to  complete  the  42d  year  of  publication,  which  will  end 
the  last  of  March  ensuing,  (and  Avhich  is  longer  than  any  Printer  in  the 
United  States  ever  did  before,  only  one  excepted)  after  which  time  he 
shall  discontinue  its  publication,  unless  he  meets  with  greater  encour 
agement  than  he  has  had  for  more  than  two  years  past.  The  former 
number  of  subscribers  to  the  Gazette  (in  times  which  tried  men^s  souls, 
and  bodies  too)  were  upwards  of  Two  Thousand  ;  near  three  fourths  of 
which  are  no  more.  But  being  now  reduced  to  400,  and  not  advertise 
ments  enough  Weekly  to  procure  Paper,  he  is  necessitated  to  relinquish 
publishing  it  any  longer  than  the  Time  before  mentioned. 

BENJAMIN  EDES. 

These  pathetic  calls  on  the  public  produced  no  effect 
ual  relief.  The  subscribers  diminished  almost  daily  in 
numbers,  and  those,  who  remained,  were  actuated  chiefly 
by  motives  of  compassion  and  benevolence.  The  pub 
lication  of  the  Gazette  was  continued  to  September  17, 
1798,  the  close  of  the  forty-third  year  of  its  existence. 
The  paper  of  that  date  thus  announces  its  last  appear 
ance,  in  the  farewell  address  of  its  editor  :  — 
U^=-  THE  EDITOR'S  FAREWELL. 

The  Editor  of  the  Boston  Gazette  after  repeated  attempts  to  prose 
cute  his  professional  occupation,  in  the  declining  period  of  his  life,  is  at 


BENJAMIN    EDES.  203 

length  obliged  to  relinquish  his  exertions,  and  to  retire  to  those  melan 
choly  paths  of  domestic  embarrassments,  to  which  misfortune  has  con 
signed  him. 

While  thus  passing  the  gloomy  valley  of  old  age  and  infirmity,  his 
consolation  still  rests  on  that  STAFF,  which  can  support  a  mind  con 
scious  of  its  own  rectitude ;  and  though  he  often  feels  the  thorns  and 
briers  on  the  road,  goading  him  in  his  passage,  yet  he  patiently  suffers 
under  these  afflictions,  hoping  that  ere  long  he  shall  arrive  at  that  peace 
ful  abode,  "  where  the  weary  are  at  rest." 

During  upwards  of  forty-three  years  of  hard  labor  in  that  "ART 
WHICH  SUPPORTS  ALL  ARTS,"  he  has  uniformly  attempted  to  vindicate 
the  RIGHTS  OF  HIS  COUNTRY.  He  early  made  himself  conspicuous  as 
the  scourge  of  tyrants  —  His  press  was  the  asylum  of  the  distressed  — 
through  that  medium  an  injured  people  could  ever  express  their  wrongs, 
or  plan  measures  for  their  deliverance.  At  that  AFFLICTING  CRISIS, 
when  America  lay  groaning  under  the  innumerable  tortures  of  a  re 
lentless  nation,  the  Boston  Gazette  was  employed  as  the  HERALD  to 
sound  the  alarm  through  the  most  remote  parts  of  the  Continent. 

The  Patriots  of  our  Country,  at  those  " times  which  tried  men's  souls" 
were  constantly  assembled  within  the  confines  of  his  office,  and  their 
manuscripts  were  displayed  as  with  a  TELEGRAPH,  in  legible  charac 
ters,  within  the  columns  of  his  periodical  publications. 

ADAMS,  HANCOCK,  WARREN,  with  a  train  of  co-patriots,  were  his 
chosen  intimates;  under  their  guidance  and  direction,  he  stood  on  the 
WATCH  TOWER,  and,  like  a  faithful  Soldier  in  the  cause  of  Freedom, 
ever  held  himself  ready,  and  willing,  to  fall  or  rise  with  the  ruin  or 
happiness  of  his  country. 

But,  alas !  the  cause  of  LIBERTY  is  not  always  the  channel  of  pre 
ferment  or  pecuniary  reward.  The  little  property  which  he  acquired 
has  long  since  fell  a  sacrifice ;  —  the  paper-evidences  of  his  services  were 
soon  consumed  by  their  rapid  depreciation,  and  the  cares  of  a  numerous 
family  were  too  powerful  to  be  resisted,  though  he  fed  them  with  prop 
erty  at  four  shillings  and  sixpence  in  the  pound,  which  he  faithfully  and 
industriously  earned  at  twenty  shillings. 

However,  it  is  beneath  a  patriot  to  mourn  his  own  misfortunes.  The 
INDEPENDENCE  of  America  being  obtained,  he  enjoys  the  pleading 
contemplation,  that  the  same  virtuous  sentiments  which  led  to  the  acquisi 
tion  will  not  cease  to  operate  for  its  continuance  —  That  his  fellow- 
citizens  will  ever  revere  the  FIRST  PRINCIPLES  of  the  Revolution ;  and 
it  is  his  earnest  prayer  to  Heaven,  that  the  RISING  GENERATION  will 
remember  the  exertions  of  THEIR  FATHERS,  in  opposing  the  lawless 
attempts  of  BRITAIN  for  their  subjugation. 


204   BOSTON  GAZETTE  AND  COUNTRY  JOURNAL. 

Let  the  citizens  of  America  REVERENCE  THEMSELVES.  Let  them 
strive  to  maintain  the  REPUBLICAN  PRINCIPLES  of  their  own  Constitu 
tion  ;  and  while  practising  these  duties,  we  may  trust  to  the  GUARDIAN 
ANGEL,  which  has  conducted  us  through  dangers,  the  most  alarming 
and  distressing. 

And  now,  my  Fellow-Citizens,  I  bid  you  FAREWELL !  MAINTAIN 
TOUR  VIRTUE — CHERISH  YOUR  LIBERTIES  —  and  may  THE  AL 
MIGHTY  protect  and  defend  you.  B.  Edes. 
BOSTON,  Sept.  17,  1798 — and  in  the  Forty-fourth  Year  of  the  Independ 
ence  of  the  BOSTON  GAZETTE. 

BENJAMIN  EDES,  the  senior  partner  of  the  firm  of 
Edes  &  Gill,  was  born  in  Charlestown  in  1723.  1  have 
not  been  able  to  obtain  any  account  of  his  apprentice 
ship  or  education.  His  learning  was  probably  acquired 
at  the  common  schools  in  Charlestown  or  Boston,  ex 
cept  that,  which  experience  and  the  native  energies  of 
his  mind  enabled  him  to  obtain.  He  began  business  in 
Boston,  in  company  with  John  Gill,  in  1755.  The 
partnership  continued  twenty  years.  He  was  a  man  of 
untiring  industry  and  perseverance.  When  the  Revo 
lutionary  War  began  he  had  accumulated  a  handsome 
property,  which,  if  he  had  been  less  indulgent  to  his 
patriotic  propensities,  might  have  afforded  him  a  compe 
tent  support  to  the  end  of  his  life.  He  was  ever  ready 
to  contribute  to  the  necessities  of  individuals  and  to  the 
requirements  of  the  public.  What  he  had  preserved 
during  the  war,  was  lost  at  its  close,  by  the  depreciation 
of  the  paper  currency.  After  he  gave  up  the  publica 
tion  of  the  Gazette,  he  continued  to  work  at  his  business, 
whenever  he  could  procure  employment  in  the  way  of 
jobbing.  He  had  several  daughters  depending  for  sub 
sistence  on  the  scanty  income  derived  from  this  precari 
ous  source.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1800,  his  old 
and  worn-out  types  and  press  were  in  a  small  wooden 


BENJAMIN    EDES.  205 

building  on  the  westerly  side  of  Kilby  street,  in  a  cham 
ber  over  a  tin-plate-worker's  shop.  He  removed  the  mis 
erable  remains  of  founts  of  letter,  on  which  had  been 
impressed  some  of  the  finest  patriotic  productions,  to  a 
house  in  Temple-street,  in  which  he  lived.  In  1801,  I 
had  occasion  to  call  on  him,  at  his  printing-room,  and 
found  him  at  work  on  a  small  job  at  the  case,  while  an 
elderly  female  (probably  one  of  his  daughters)  was  at 
the  press,  striking  off  shop-bills.  The  venerable  form 
of  the  old  man,  setting  types  "  with  spectacles  on  nose/' 
and  the  singular  sight  of  a  woman,  beating  and  pulling 
at  the  press,  together  with  the  aspect  of  destitution,  that 
pervaded  the  whole  apartment,  presented  a  scene  well 
adapted  to  excite  sympathy,  and  to  make  an  impression 
on  the  mind,  which  the  vicissitudes  of  fifty  years  have 
not  effaced.  At  length  the  infirmities  of  age  overcame 
his  physical  powers,  and  the  curse  of  poverty  lay  heavily 
on  his  spirit.  Oppressed  with  years  and  sickness,  neg 
lected  and  forgotten  by  those,  who  enjoyed  the  blessings 
he  had  helped  to  secure,  he  died  in  December,  1803,  at 
the  age  of  eighty  years. 


is 


THE  BOSTON  WEEKLY  ADVERTISER. 


THE  first  number  of  this  paper  was  published,  August 
22,  1757,  by  Green  &  Russell.  At  the  head  of  the 
first  column  is  the  following  :  — 

The  PRINTERS  to  the  PUBLIC. 
GENTLEMEN, 

Agreeable  to  our  Printed  Proposals,  Published  some  Time  since, 
The  first  Number  of  the  Weekly  Advertiser,  now  makes  its  Appearance, 
And  as  the  Continuation  of  it  will  greatly  depend  on  the  favorable 
Reception  it  meets  with  from  the  Public,  We  shall  use  our  utmost  En 
deavors  to  collect  from  Time  to  Time,  the  newest  and  best  Intelligence, 
both  Foreign  and  Domestic :  and  shall  always  be  obliged  to  any  Gen 
tlemen,  that  will  favor  us  with  Pieces  of  Speculation,  provided  they 
are  wrote  in  a  manner  consistent  with  Decency  and  Public  Peace.  It 
being  our  only  Intention,  as  far  as  lies  in  our  Power,  to  promote 
Knowledge,  Vertue,  and  innocent  Amusement. 

The  invitation  to  gentlemen  to  favor  the  publishers 
with  "  Pieces  of  Speculation  "  does  not  appear  to  have 
produced  many  original  contributions.  For  the  first 


GREEN    AND    RUSSELL.  207 

year  of  the  publication,  the  paper  is  entirely  barren  of 
any  thing  cf  a  literary  character.  It  is  well  filled,  how 
ever,  with  foreign  and  domestic  intelligence,  selected 
from  other  papers.  Its  advertisements  are  numerous. 
August  14,  1758,  the  publishers  have  a  short  advertise 
ment  of  their  own.  stating  that  —  "This  PAPER  [No. 
52.]  finishes  one  Year,  since  the  BOSTON  Weekly  Ad 
vertiser  was  first  printed,  ....  which  is  mention'd 
not  to  cheer  those,  [in  this  publick  Manner,]  who  en 
couraged  the  publishing  it  at  first,  but  to  return  our 
THANKS  to  them ;  and  at  the  same  Time  to  inform 
them,  That  the  good  Reception  it  has  met  with  from  the 
PUBLICK,  is  a  great  Inducement  to  its  Continuance  ;  and 
will  lay  us  under  still  further  obligations,"  &.c. 

At  the  close  of  the  second  year,  the  title  of  this 
paper  was  changed  to  "Green  &  Russell's  Post-Boy 
and  Advertiser,"  with  the  devices  of  the  ship  and  Post- 
Boy  ;  and  at  a  subsequent  period  it  was  again  enti 
tled  "  The  Massachusetts  Gazette,  and  Post-Boy  and 
Advertiser."  When  it  took  the  last  title,  a  cut  represent 
ing  the  king's  arms  was  placed  in  the  centre.  Its  circu 
lation,  it  is  said,  was  never  extensive.  The  files  show 
that  it  was  not  distinguished  for  original  essays  or  edito 
rial  speculations.  The  printers  were  appointed  printers 
to  the  British  Commissioners,  and,  of  course,  they  be 
came  the  advocates  of  the  measures  of  the  British  admin 
istration.  In  1768,  it  was  united  with  the  News-Letter, 
and  was  announced  as  "  Published  by  Authority."  *  In 
September,  1769,  the  four-sided  association  of  News- 
Letter,  Advertiser,  Post-Boy,  and  Gazette,  was  dis 
solved,  and  Green  &  Russell  continued  to  publish  a 

*  See  page  30. 


208  BOSTON    WEEKLY    ADVERTISER. 

paper,  with  three  of  the  titles,  namely,  "  The  Massa 
chusetts  Gazette,  and  Boston  Post-Boy,  and  Advertiser," 
retaining  the  cut  of  the  king's  arms  at  the  head.  In 
April,  1773,  they  gave  up  the  printing  and  publishing  of 
the  paper  to  Mills  &i  Hicks,  who  continued  it  with  re 
newed  spirit,  under  the  patronage  and  encouragement  of 
the  officers  of  the  crown.  Several  good  writers  in  favor 
of  the  government  became  its  supporters,  and  gave  it 
additional  attraction.  The  publication  was  continued  till 
after  the  beginning  of  the  war  in  1775,  when  it  ceased, 
after  an  existence  of  about  eighteen  years. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1757,  Richard  Draper 
and  Edes  &,  Gill  had  a  dispute  about  the  publishing  of 
an  Almanack,  which  they  carried  on  in  the  Weekly  Ad 
vertiser,  though  both  the  belligerents  were  themselves 
Printers  of  papers.  The  controversy  was  begun  in  the 
Advertiser  by  Draper,  who  accused  Edes  &i  Gill  of  pirat 
ing  the  copy ;  and  advertised  the  public,  "  That  the  al 
manacks  from  the  original  copy  purchased  of  Dr.  Ames," 
were  sold  by  certain  printers  and  booksellers  whom  he 
named.  He  also  stated  that  in  the  "  pirated  Alma 
nack,  Inferior  Court,  Newbury,  was  omitted"  in  its 
proper  place.  To  this  Edes  &  Gill  replied,  acquainting 
the  public  "  that  said  Inferior  Court  at  Newbury,  (which 
they  had  since  put  in  its  place,)  was  omitted  in  near  one 
thousand  copies,"  which  they  had  received  of  Draper, 
"  and  said  to  be  printed  from  the  original."  In  their 
turn  they  accuse  Draper  of  selling  to  them  incorrect 
almanacks,  and  then  "  cautioning  the  public  not  to  buy 
copies  printed  from  the  same,  though  EXACTLY  agreea 
ble."  This  produced  a  long  rejoinder  from  Draper,  in 
which,  to  clear  himself  from  the  charge  of  selling  false 


GREEN    AND    RUSSELL.  209 

copies  to  Edes  &  Gill,  he  charged  them  with  taking, — 
in  their  impatience  to  get  a  copy,  — an  unfair  method  to 
obtain  it,  namely,  "  by  means  of  their  book-keeper." 
The  next  week  Edes  &  Gill  retorted  with  some  tartness, 
and  affirmed  that  they  had  no  book-keeper  ;  and  added 
that  Mr.  Draper  "  might  as  well  claim  the  property  of 
printing  the  Testament,  Psalter,  or  Primer,  as  to  charge 
them  with  piracy."  To  the  bottom  of  their  advertise 
ment,  Green  &  Russell  added  a  note,  hoping  that,  as 
their  readers  were  pretty  well  acquainted  with  the  dis 
putes  between  Mr.  Draper  and  Messrs.  Edes  &  Gill, 
concerning  Dr.  Ames's  almanack,  they  hoped  the  par 
ties  would  forbear  troubling  the  public  any  more  through 
the  Advertiser  with  what  so  little  concerned  them.  This 
did  not,  however,  silence  the  rival  printers  of  the  alma 
nack.  Draper  came  out,  in  the  next  paper,  with  a  longer 
and  more  angry  advertisement,  concluding  with  a  promise 
to  trouble  the  editor  no  further  with  the  dispute.  Edes 
&  Gill  next  published  nearly  a  column,  ridiculing  their 
antagonist  rather  sharply,  and  criticizing  his  language  as 
ungrammatical,  high-flown,  full  of  blunders,  &c.  ;  and 
concluded  by  promising  "  to  pay  him  ten  Spanish  Mexi 
can  miird  Dollars,"  if  he  would  produce  any  evidence 
to  prove  his  charge  against  them  of  unfairness  in  obtain 
ing  their  copy  of  the  Almanack.  Draper  made  a  short 
response  in  the  next  paper,  accusing  Edes  &  Gill  of  de 
ceit,  in  garbling  one  of  his  sentences,  and  choosing  "  not 
to  claim  their  offered  reward  to  evidence  their  conduct 
to  be  bad."  He  concluded  with  a  quotation  from  Pope, 
describing  those  whom  "  Nature  meant  but  fools :  "  and 
here  the  controversy  ended  in  the  Advertiser. 

JOHN  GREEN,  one  of  the  printers  of  the  Weekly  Ad- 
18* 


210  BOSTON    WEEKLY    ADVERTISER. 

vertiser,  was  the  son  of  Bartholomew  Green,  jun.  He 
was  born  in  Boston,  and  served  his  apprenticeship  with 
John  Draper.  JOSEPH  RUSSELL,  the  other  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Green  &  Russell,  was  also  born  in  Boston.  He 
served  his  apprenticeship  with  Daniel  Fowle.  The 
partnership  was  formed  in  1755.  A  few  years  after 
ward,  Russell  opened  an  auction  office,  the  profits  of 
which  were  shared  by  the  firm.  Green  managed  the 
printing-office,  and  Russell  took  charge  of  the  auction 
room.  By  their  industry  in  the  two  occupations  they 
acquired  a  handsome  property. 

"  Green  became  interested  in  the  Independent  Chron 
icle  published  by  Powars  &  Willis,  but  his  name  did 
not  appear  in  the  imprint.  He  was  a  man  of  steady 
habits,  true  to  his  engagements  and  well  respected,  He 
died  in  November  1787,  aged  sixty  years.  He  had  no 
children.  He  was,  I  believe,  the  last  of  the  descendants 
of  Samuel  Green  of  Cambridge,  who  printed  in  Mas 
sachusetts."  * 

"  Russell  was  a  good  workman  in  the  printing  busi 
ness  ;  but  his  talents  were  more  particularly  adapted  to 
the  duties  of  an  auctioneer.  He  soon  arrived  at  celeb 
rity  in  this  line,  and  had  more  employment  in  it  than  any 
other  person  in  Boston.  When  his  partnership  with 
Green  was  dissolved,  he  formed  a  connection  with  Sam 
uel  Clap,  and  this  company,  under  the  firm  of  Russell 
&  Clap,  continued  the  business  of  auctioneers,  till  the 
death  of  Russell,"  which  happened  in  November,  1795, 
when  he  was  in  the  sixty-second  year  of  his  age.  "  Rus 
sell  was  full  of  life,  very  facetious  and  witty,  but  atten 
tive  to  his  concerns.  Few  men  had  more  friends,  or 
were  more  esteemed.  He  acquired  considerable  prop- 

*  History  of  Printing,  vol.  i.  348. 


MILLS    AND    HICKS.  211 

erty,  but  did  not  hoard  up  his  wealth,  for  benevolence 
was  one  of  his  virtues."  * 

NATHANIEL  MILLS  was  born  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Boston,  and  learned  the  art  of  printing  of  John  Fleming. 
He  was  a  sensible,  genteel  young  man,  and  had  the 
principal  charge  of  the  printing  of  the  Gazette  and  Post- 
Boy.  JOHN  HICKS  was  born  in  Cambridge,  and  learned 
his  trade  of  Green  &  Russell.  Before  entering  into 
partnership,  with  Mills,  he  was  supposed  to  be  a  zealous 
Whig.  He  was  reputed  to  have  been  one  of  the  young 
men,  who  had  an  affray  with  some  British  soldiers, 
which  led  to  the  memorable  massacre  of  the  Fifth  of 
March,  1770.  His  father  was  one  of  the  first  men,  who 
fell  on  the  Nineteenth  of  April,  1775;  — being  one  of 
the  foremost  to  fly  to  arms,  to  attack  the  detachment  of 
British  troops,  on  their  return  from  Concord  to  Boston. 
Notwithstanding  this  sacrifice  of  his  father  in  the  cause 
of  his  country,  the  younger  Hicks  adhered  to  the  British, 
and  remained  with  the  royal  army,  and  supported  its 
cause  as  a  printer,  till  peace  was  concluded  and  the 
independence  of  the  country  acknowledged  by  Great 
Britain.  He  followed  the  army,  or  went  with  it,  to 
Halifax,  and  having  acquired  wealth,  he  returned  to 
Massachusetts,  purchased  a  farm  at  Newton,  in  the 
county  of  Middlesex,  and  resided  on  it  till  his  death. 

The  partnership  of  Mills  &  Hicks,  was  not  dissolved 
till  1783.  For  a  while  they  kept  a  stationery  store  in 
New- York,  and  executed  printing  for  the  royal  army 
and  navy.  They  were  also  connected  with  Alexander 
and  James  Robertson  in  the  publication  of  the  Royal 
American  Gazette  in  that  city. 

*  History  of  Printing,  vol.  i.  340. 


THE  BOSTON  CHRONICLE. 


ON  the  twenty-first  of  December,  1767,  Mein  &> 
Fleming  began  the  publication  of  The  Boston  Chronicle. 
It  was  printed  on  a  whole  sheet,  in  quarto,  on  a  new 
and  handsome  type,  and,  in  its  mechanical  execution, 
far  surpassed  any  paper  that  had  appeared  before  it,  in 
New-England.  The  price  was  six  shillings  and  eight 
pence  a  year,  —  a  very  low  price,  for  a  paper  containing 
such  an  amount  of  matter.  There  were  but  few  adver 
tisements,  and  but  little  space  was  occupied  in  detailing 
the  ordinary  intelligence  of  the  week.  The  contents 
were,  chiefly,  selected  from  foreign  papers,  and  from  the 
works  of  popular  English  authors.  In  the  first  volume 
were  published  essays  of  some  of  the  best  prose  writers, 
Collins's  Oriental  Eclogues,  Shenstone's  Pastorals,  and 
some  of  Goldsmith's  poetry  ;  copious  extracts  from  the 
writings  of  John  Wilkes  ;  and  from  the  Pennsylvania 
papers,  the  celebrated  "  Farmer's  Letters."  The  taste 
and  judgement,  exhibited  in  the  management  of  the  pa 
per,  its  handsome  appearance,  and  the  convenience  of 
its  form  for  preservation,  immediately  attracted  the  favor 
able  notice  of  the  public,  and  secured  a  respectable  and 


MEIN    AND    FLEMING.  213 

unexpected  number  of  subscribers.     In  the  third  num 
ber  is  the  following  notice  :  — 

We  are  sorry  that  we  cannot  serve  the  gentlemen,  who,  during  the 
course  of  the  last  week,  sent  us  their  subscriptions  for  the  Chronicle, 
with  the  first  and  second  papers  ;  although  we  printed  near  three  hun 
dred  more  than  were  engaged  of  the  first  number,  they  were  all  disposed 
of  in  a  few  days.  We  have  printed  an  additional  quantity  of  this  paper, 
number  three,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year,  our  subscribers  who  have  been 
disappointed,  may  depend  on  being  supplied  with  the  two  first  papers, 
as  we  shall  then  reprint  them. 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  in  an  advertisement,  pro 
posing  to  enlarge  the  Chronicle,  and  introduce  sundry 
changes  in  the  selection  and  arrangement  of  the  matter, 
the  publishers  say,  — 

We  have  been  blamed  by  some,  for  not  publishing  their  essays  on 
Liberty ;  and  also  by  many,  who  have  sent  us  pieces  in  support  of  pre 
rogative  :  The  reason  they  were  not  inserted,  was,  that  they  tended 
more  to  traduce  private  characters  than  to  serve  the  cause,  which  the 
Authors  wrote  in  favor  of.  We  will  always,  when  any  dispute  claims 
general  attention,  give  both  sides  of  the  question,  if  they  can  be  obtained : 
But  will  never  print  any  piece  that  may  injure  the  characters  of  indi 
viduals  ;  this  we  can  with  justice  say,  we  have  always  avoided,  and 
shall  continue  to  do  so. 

The  form  of  the  Chronicle  was  then  changed  to  folio. 
It  had  been  published  weekly  on  Monday,  during  its 
first  year  ;  it  was  now  published  on  Mondays  and  Thurs 
days,  and  was  the  first  paper  published  twice  a  week  in 
New-England.  "  Before  the  close  of  the  second  year 
of  publication,  its  publisher,  Mein,  engaged  in  a  political 
warfare  with  those,  who  were  in  opposition  to  the  meas 
ures  of  the  British  administration.  In  the  Chronicle,  he 
abused  numbers  of  the  most  respectable  Whigs  in  Bos 
ton,  and  he  was  charged  with  insulting  the  populace. 
To  avoid  the  effects  of  popular  resentment,  it  became 
necessary  for  him  to  leave  the  country.  Fleming  con- 


214  BOSTON    CHRONICLE. 

tinued  the  Chronicle,  during  the  absence  of  Mein,  in  the 
name  of  the  firm  ;  but  it  had  fallen  into  disrepute,  and 
its  subscribers,  in  rapid  succession,  withdrew  their  names. 
Many  supposed  that  Mein  was  privately  assisted  by  the 
agents  of  government,  and  several  circumstances  ren- 

O  O  ' 

dered  this  opinion  probable.  But  when  the  paper  lost 
its  subscribers,  it  could  neither  be  profitable  to  its  pub 
lishers,  nor  answer  the  design  of  its  supporters.  Its 
publication,  therefore,  ceased  on  the  25th  of  June, 
1770."  *  On  this  occasion,  the  subscribers  and  the 
public  were  thus  addressed :  — 

*%*  The  Printers  of  the  Boston  Chronicle  return  thanks  to  the  gen 
tlemen,  who  have  so  long  favored  them  with  their  subscriptions,  and 
now  inform  them  that,  as  the  Chronicle,  in  the  present  state  of  affairs, 
cannot  be  carried  on,  either  for  their  entertainment  or  the  emolument  of 
the  Printers,  it  will  be  discontinued  for  some  time. 

JOHN  MEIN,  the  senior  partner  in  the  firm  of  Mein  & 
Fleming,  was  born  in  Scotland,  where  he  received  a 
good  education,  and  was  bred  to  the  business  of  a  book 
seller.  He  came  to  Boston  from  Glasgow,  in  1764,  in 
company  with  Robert  Sandeman,  f  —  a  kinsman  of  whom 
was,  for  a  short  time,  in  partnership  with  Mein,  in  the 
bookselling  business.  When  this  partnership  was  dis 
solved,  Mein  entered  more  largely  into  business  as  a 
bookseller,  and  connected  with  it  a  circulating  library. 
His  advertisements  frequently  occupy  near  a  page  in  the 
Chronicle.  When  he  left  the  country  for  England,  he 
engaged  as  a  writer  against  the  Colonies,  and  in  the  pay 
of  the  ministry.  It  is  not  known  that  he  ever  returned. 

*  History  of  Printing,  vol  ii.  247. 

fThis  Robert  Sandeman  was  a  theological  and  controversial  writer  of  consid 
erable  notoriety.  He  was  the  founder  of  a  religious  sect,  known  by  the  name  of 
Sandemanians,  which  was,  at  one  time,  respectably  numerous  in  Boston,  and  yet 
survives  in  two  or  three  highly  respectable  families. 


MEIN    AND    FLEMING.  215 

Perhaps  no  man  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  Whigs 
to  a  greater  degree  than  John  Mein.  On  the  fifth  of 
November,  1769,  as^wftS-ettstGruSTy  then  in"^tew-Eng- 
land,  many  persons  amused  themselves  and  the  public 
by  carrying,  through  the  streets,  effigies,  representing  the 
Pope  and  the  Devil ;  and,  on  this  occasion,  these  effigies 
were  accompanied  by  others,  representing  Mein  and  his 
servant.  On  the  right  side  of  Mein  was  a  label,  bear 
ing  the  following  inscription  :  — 

I  nsulting  Wretch,  we  '11  him  expose  — 

0  'er  the  whole  world  his  deeds  disclose ; 
H  ell  now  gapes  wide  to  take  him  in ; 

N  ow  he  is  ripe  —  0  lump  of  Sin ! 

M  can  is  the  man  —  M — n  is  his  name  ; 

E  nough  he  's  spread  his  hellish  fame  5 

1  nferaal  furies  hurl  his  soul, 

N  ine  million  times,  from  pole  to  pole  ! 

Labels  on  the  left  side,  were  of  a  similar  character, 
and  addressed  to  Tories  in  general.  On  the  lantern, 
that  illuminated  the  group,  was  the  following  :  — 

Here  stands  the  Devil  for  a  show, 

With  the  In — p — rs,  in  a  row, 

All  bound  to  Hell,  and  that  we  know. 

Go  M — n,  laden  deep  with  curses  on  thy  head, 

To  some  dark  corner  of  the  world  repair, 
Where  the  bright  sun  no  pleasant  beams  can  shed, 

And  spend  Jhy  life  in  horror  and  despair. 

JOHN  FLEMING,  the  other  partner  in  the  firm  of  Mein 
&  Fleming,  was  also  a  Scotchman,  and  arrived  in  Bos 
ton,  also,  in  1764.  He  was  bred  a  printer.  After 
forming  a  connection  with  Mein,  he  made  a  voyage  to 
Scotland,  where  he  purchased  materials  and  engaged 
workmen  for  executing  printing  on  a  scale  rather  exten 
sive  for  that  period.  Fleming  had  not  rendered  himself 
so  obnoxious  to  popular  resentment,  as  his  partner  had, 


216  BOSTON    CHRONICLE. 

and,  after  the  discontinuance  of  the  Chronicle,  he  print- 
on  his  own  account,  and  continued  in  Boston 
rBOiid^k^RIItbg  materials,  and  went 
to  England  with  his  family.  At  a  later  period,  he  visit 
ed  this  country  as  an  agent  for  a  commercial  house. 
Afterwards  he  resided  in  France  and  died  there,  since 
the  year  1800. 


THE  ESSEX  GAZETTE. 


IN  1768,  on  the  second  of  August,  Samuel  Hall  is 
sued,  in  Salem,  the  first  number  of  a  paper,  called  The 
Essex  Gazette.  The  head  was  decorated  with  the  cut 
here  given,  but  I  find  no  explanation  of  the  device. 
This  was  the  first  newspaper  printed  in  Salem.  After 
publishing  the  paper  three  or  four  years,  Hall  took  his 
brother,  Ebenezer,  into  partnership,  and  the  paper  was 
published  by  them  in  Salem,  till  1775.  It  was  well  con 
ducted,  and  ably  supported  the  cause  of  the  people 
against  the  unjust  measures  of  the  British  Parliament. 

In  the  second  number  of  the  Gazette  there  is  a  piece, 
addressed  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Salem,  purporting  to  be 
written  by  a  female,  who  "  was  married  to  an  amazing 
great  whig ;  "  and  this  husband  of  hers,  she  says,  "  since 
these  Liberty  times  began,  has  been  so  excessive  fond  of 

VOL.    I.  19 


218  THE    ESSEX    GAZETTE. 

his  new  mistress,  Liberty,  that  he  will  not  let  any  body 
under  his  roof  enjoy  one  spice  of  it ;  no,  not  even  in 
thinking,  much  less  in  speaking"  The  writer,  —  of 
course,  a  decided  Tory,  —  called  on  her  fellow-citizens  to 
keep  quiet  and  peaceable,  and  submit  to  lawful  author 
ity,  to  avoid  all  exciting  company,  and  all  conversation, 
that  should  lead  to  jealousy  and  suspicion,"  &c.  &,c. 
This  was  answered  in  the  next  paper,  in  a  severe  but 
sober  manner.  At  the  head  of  the  communication  is  a 
note  by  the  Editor,  saying,  —  "  Any  disputes  among  us, 
especially  at  this  time,  must  be  attended  with  conse 
quences  prejudicial  to  the  community ;  and  it  is  disa 
greeable  to  the  Printer  hereof  to  continue  them  in  this 
paper ;  but,  as  a  Lover  of  Peace  has  begun  them, 
thinking,  no  doubt,  that  these  differences  will  be  happier 
and  more  speedily  terminated,  by  means  of  each  party's 
publishing  their  sentiments,  no  one,  it  is  presumed,  will 
object  to  both  parties  being  heard." 

The  contributions  to  the  Gazette,  by  whig  writers, 
were  numerous,  and  some  of  them  were  written  with 
great  force.  The  Editor  made  judicious  selections  from 
the  writings  of  Whigs  in  other  papers,  and  his  own  para 
graphs  were  the  exponents  of  pure  whig  sentiments. 
But  his  paper  was  not  devoted  entirely  to  news  and 
politics.  Wit  and  humor,  morals  and  religion,  had  a 
place  in  his  columns.  The  annexed  article  was  sent  by 
a  correspondent,  with  a  request  that  it  should  be  inserted, 
but  whether  it  were  original  or  not  the  contributor  does 
not  say :  — 

THE  LIFE  OF  THE  HAPPY  MAN. 

The  happy  man  was  born  in  the  city  of  Regeneration,  in  the  parish  of 
Repentance-unto-Life.  He  was  educated  in  the  School  of  Obedience,  and 


SAMUEL  AND  EBENEZER  HALL.         219 

lives  now  in  Perseverance.  He  works  at  the  trade  of  Diligence,  notwith 
standing  he  has  a  large  estate  in  the  county  of  Christian  Contentmerd ; 
and,  many  times,  does  jobs  of  Self-Denial.  He  wears  the  plain  garment 
of  Humility,  and  has  a  better  suit  to  put  on,  when  he  goes  to  Court, 
called  the  Robe  of  Chrisfs  Righteousness.  He  often  walks  in  the  valley 
of  Self- Abasement,  and  sometimes  climbs  the  mountain  of  Spiritual- 
Minded  ness.  He  breakfasts  every  morning  upon  Spiritual-Prayer,  and 
sups  every  evening  on  the  same ;  has  meat  to  eat,  that  the  world  knows 
nothing  of,  and  his  drink  is  the  sincere  Milk  of  the  Word.  Thus  happy 
he  lives  and  happy  he  dies. 

Happy  is  he,  who  has  the  Gospel  submission  in  his  will,  due  order  in 
his  affections,  sound  peace  in  his  conscience,  sanctifying  grace  in  his 
soul,  and  divinity  in  his  breast,  true  humility  in  his  heart,  the  Redeem 
er's  yoke  on  his  neck,  a  vain  world  under  his  feet,  and  a  crown  of  glory 
over  his  head.  Happy  is  the  life  of  such  a  one  !  In  order  to  attain 
which,  pray  fervently,  believe  firmly,  wait  patiently,  work  abundantly, 
live  holy,  die  daily,  watch  your  heart,  guide  your  senses,  redeem  time, 
love  Christ,  and  long  for  glory. 

The  following,  from  a  Marblehead  correspondent,  is  of 
a  different  character,  but  not  without  a  moral :  — 

THE  NAKED  TRUTH. 

Were  Fortune  more  civil,  and  business  more  brisk, 
My  Horse  not  so  frantic,  or  subject  to  frisk, 
Should  I  chance  to  set  eye  on  a  pretty  young  Lass, 
Not  too  fond  of  dear  self,  nor  too  oft  at  her  glass  ; 
Not  a  foe  to  good-humor,  diversion  and  glee, 
Not  a  slave  to  her  pleasures,  regardless  of  me ; 
In  deportment  so  easy ;  her  bosom,  beside, 
The  mansion  of  goodness,  unsullied  by  pride ; 
A  lover  of  neatness  ;  to  virtue  inclined ; 
Of  a  sweet  disposition,  and  generous  mind ; 
A  friend  of  the  Muses,  yet  no  learned  thing, 
Or  a  wit,  to  provoke  me,  and  killingly  sting ; 
But  so  friendly  and  social,  so  warm  and  so  gay, 
As  to  cheer  up  my  heart,  and  enliven  each  day ; 
Could  I  find  such  a  fair  one,  though  Hobby  should  prance, 
And  kick  up  his  heels,  or  commence  a  new  dance ; 
With  whip,  bit,  and  spur,  I'd  incessantly  trouble, 
Till  Hob.  should  leave  flouncing,  and  carry  us  double; 
Once  mounted,  a  fig  for  all  care  and  all  sorrow, 
We'd  be  happy  to-day,  and  as  happy  to-morrow : 


220  NEW-ENGLAND    CHRONICLE. 

Should  Hobby's  dear  burthen  too  ponderous  grow, 
Kind  Prudence  would  teach  us  the  means  how  to  go ; 
Should  Fortune  prove  trickish  and  tumble  us  o'er, 
Ten  thousand,  Dear  Girl,  have  been  served  so  before. 
Take  Courage,  my  Charmer,  we'd  mount  him  again ; 
Bide  slowly  the  mountain,  but  gallop  the  plain ; 
Teetit-up,  teetit-up,  we'd  tilt  it  along, 
And  cheer  up  our  souls  with  a  glass  and  a  song. 
What  matters  it,  Sweeting,  if  others  ride  single, 
With  horses  more  sprightly,  and  purses  that  jingle,  — 
At  night,  I  am  sure,  at  the  Inn  nigh  the  Vale, 
Though  driven  by  storms,  or  a  sweet  pleasant  gale, 
We  shall  still  be  so-so,  not  a  stiver  in  pocket, 
Like  a  taper  burnt  out,  or  a  snuff  in  the  socket. 

In  the  summer  of  1775,  by  the  advice  of  many  mem 
bers  of  the  General  Court,  and  other  respectable  gentle 
men  of  the  Whig  party,  the  proprietors  of  the  Gazette 
removed  from  Salem,  to  Cambridge,  with  their  printing 
apparatus,  and  continued  the  publication,  under  the 

title  of 

THE  NEW-ENGLAND  CHRONICLE, 

OK 
THE  WEEKLY  GAZETTE. 

The  printing-office  was  in  Stoughton  Hall.  The  first 
number  of  the  paper  printed  in  Cambridge,  was  issued 
on  the  tenth  of  August.  It  contained  essays  from  Lon 
don  papers,  a  patriotic  article  from  the  Connecticut 
Courant,  interesting  articles  of  intelligence,  and  more 
than  a  page  of  advertisements,  —  chiefly  from  Boston 
customers.  It  had  also  an  interesting  Letter  from  Gen 
eral  Washington  to  certain  independent  military  compa 
nies  in  Virginia.*  Subsequent  papers  contain  full  ac 
counts  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
then  sitting  at  Philadelphia,  and  of  patriotic  assemblies 
in  several  of  the  colonies.  A  review  of  General  Bur- 
goyne's  Defence  of  his  treatment  of  General  Lee,  signed 

*  See  Sparks's  Washington,  vol.  iii.  p.  4. 


SAMUEL  AND  EBENEZER  HALL. 

"  An  Old  Man,"  and  dated  "  From  my  Cottage  near 
Boston,"  which  appeared  in  the  Gazette,  is  an  argument, 
that  would  not  discredit  the  best  political  writer  of  that 
or  any  other  age ;  and  it  was  doubtless  written  by  one 
of  that  glorious  company  of  Whigs,  that  had  filled  the 
Boston  Gazette  with  their  patriotic  essays.  From  the 
number  and  character  of  the  articles  concerning  the 
condition  of  the  Colonies,  and  the  relations  between 
them  and  the  "  mother  country,"  it  cannot  be  doubted 
that  this  paper  had  a  powerful  influence  in  awakening 
and  sustaining  among  the  people  the  spirit  of  resistance 
to  the  parliamentary  edicts.  Many  of  these  produc 
tions,  —  enough  to  fill  several  volumes,  —  are  worthy  of 
republication,  and  ought  to  be  preserved  in  a  more  con 
venient  and  enduring  form  than  that,  in  which  they  are 
now  to  be  found. 

The  following  verses,  suggested  by  the  Battle  of 
Bunker-Hill  and  the  burning  of  Charlestown,  appeared 
in  one  of  the  early  numbers  of  the  Chronicle.  They 
have  not  quite  so  much  poetry  as  patriotism ;  but  will 
serve  to  illustrate  the  prevalent  feelings  of  the  people,  in 
that  painful  day  of  gloom  and  apprehension  :  — 

Palmyra's  prospect,  with  her  tumbling  walls, 

Huge  piles  of  ruin,  heaped  on  every  side, 
From  each  beholder  tears  of  pity  calls,  — 

Sad  monuments,  extending  far  and  wide :  — 

Yet  far  more  dismal  to  the  Patriot's  eye 

The  dear  remains  of  Charlestown's  former  brow, 

Behind  whose  walls  did  hundred  warriors  die, 
And  Britain's  centre  felt  the  fatal  blow. 

To  see  a  town  so  elegantly  formed, 

Such  buildings,  graced  with  every  curious  art, 

Spoiled  in  a  moment,  on  a  sudden  stormed, 
Must  fill  with  indignation  every  heart. 
19* 


222  NEW-ENGLAND    CHRONICLE. 

But  when  we  find  the  reasons  of  her  fate 

To  be  but  trifling  —  Trifling,  did  I  say? 
For  being  noble,  daring  to  be  great, 

Nor  calmly  yielding  to  tyrannic  sway :  — 
To  see  the  relics  of  that  once  famed  place, 

Pointing  to  Heaven,  as  'twere,  in  ardent  cry, 
By  lawless  Power  robbed  of  every  grace, 

Yet  calling  bolts  of  vengeance  from  on  high  :  — 
To  find,  I  say,  such  dealings  with  mankind, 

To  see  those  Royal  Rollers  planted  near, 
More  glorious  buildings  turning  into  wind, 

And  loth  to  mingle  with  the  common  air ; — 
Whilst  such  chastisements,  coming  from  a  state, 

Who  calls  herself  our  parent,  nurse  and  friend, 
Must  rouse  each  soul,  that 's  noble,  frank  and  great,  — 

Must  urge  us  on,  our  lives  and  all  to  spend. 
O  spot,  once  graceful,  but,  alas !  no  more  ; 

Till  signs  shall  end,  and  Time  itself  shall  cease ; 
Thy  name  shall  live,  and  on  Fame's  pinion  soar, 

To  mark  grim  blackness  on  Great-Britain's  face. 
Nor  shall  the  blood  of  heroes,  on  the  plain, 

Who  nobly  fell  that  day  in  Freedom's  cause, 
Lie  unrevenged,  though  with  thy  thousands  slain, 

Whilst  there's  a  king,  who  fears  nor  minds  thy  laws. 
Shall  Cain,  who  madly  spilt  his  brother's  blood, 

Receive  such  curses  from  the  God  of  all  ? 
Is  not  that  Sovereign  still  as  just  and  good, 

To  hear  the  cries  of  children,  when  they  fall  ? 
Yes !  there's  a  God,  whose  laws  are  still  the  same, 

Whose  years  are  endless,  and  whose  power  is  great : 
He  is  our  God ;  Jehovah  is  his  name, 

With  him  we  trust  our  sore  oppressed  state. 
When  he  shall  rise,  (0  Britain,  dread  the  day, 

Nor  can  I  stretch  the  period  of  thy  fate ; ) 
What  heart  of  steel,  what  tyrant  there  shall  sway 

A  throne,  that's  sinking  by  oppression's  weight ! 
Thy  crimes,  O  North !  shall  then  like  spectres  stand, 

Nor  Charlestown  hindmost  in  the  ghostly  roll, 

And  faithless  Gage,  who  gave  the  dread  command, 

Shall  find  due  torments  gnaw  upon  his  soul. 


SAMUEL  AND  EBENEZER  HALL.         223 

Yea,  in  this  world,  we  trust  those  ills  so  dread, 
Which  fill  the  nation  with  such  matchless  woes, 

Shall  fall  with  double  vengeance  on  thy  head, 
Nor  'scape  those  minions  which  thy  court  compose. 

The  Chronicle  of  February  22,  1776,  announced  the 
death  of  Ebenezer  Hall,  in  the  twenty-seventh  year  of 
his  age,  and  states  that  he  survived  his  wife  only  six 
weeks.  He  was  taught  the  printing  business  by  his 
brother,  Samuel.  He  was  a  good  printer,  a  man  of  amia 
ble  disposition,  agreeable  manners,  and  correct  princi 
ples.  The  same  paper  makes  an  apology  for  the  omis 
sion  of  one  week's  publication,  as  the  other  partner  had 
been  seized  with  a  violent  sickness,  just  after  his  brother's 
illness  commenced. 

Immediately  after  the  publication  of  April  4,  the 
printing  materials  were  removed  to  Boston,  and  placed 
in  a  building  in  School-street,  next  door  to  the  "  Oliver 
Cromwell  Tavern."  The  last  number  printed  at  Cam 
bridge  contained  a  copy  of  the  diploma,  which  the  Cor 
poration  of  Harvard  College  had,  on  the  day  preceding, 
given  to  General  Washington.  It  is  an  interesting  doc 
ument,  printed  both  in  Latin  and  English  —  the  English 
version  here  follows  :  — 

The  Corporation  of  HARVARD  COLLEGE  in  Cambridge,  in  New- 
England,  to  all  the  Faithful  in  Christ,  to  whom  these  Presents  shall 
come, 

GREETING, 

Whereas  Academical  Degrees  were  originally  instituted  for  this  Pur 
pose,  That  men  eminent  for  Knowledge,  Wisdom,  and  Virtue,  who 
have  highly  merited  of  the  Republic  of  Letters  and  of  the  Common- 
Wealth,  should  be  rewarded  with  the  Honors  of  these  Laurels ;  there  is 
the  greatest  Propriety  in  conferring  such  Honor  on  that  very  illustrious 
Gentleman,  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  Esq.;  the  accomplished 
General  of  the  confederated  Colonies  in  America,  whose  Knowledge 


224  NEW-ENGLAND    CHRONICLE. 

and  patriotic  Ardor  are  manifest  to  all :  Who,  for  his  distinguished 
Virtue,  both  Civil  and  Military,  in  the  first  Place,  being  elected  by  the 
Suffrages  of  the  Virginians,  one  of  their  Delegates,  exerted  himself 
with  Fidelity  and  singular  Wisdom  in  the  celebrated  Congress  of  Amer 
ica,  for  the  Defence  of  Liberty,  when  in  the  utmost  Danger  of  being 
for  ever  lost,  and  for  the  Salvation  of  his  Country ;  and  then,  at  the 
earnest  Request  of  that  Grand  Council  of  Patriots,  without  Hesitation, 
left  all  the  Pleasures  of  his  delightful  Seat  in  Virginia,  and  the  Affairs 
of  his  own  Estate,  that  through  all  the  Fatigues  and  Dangers  of  a 
Camp,  without  accepting  any  Reward,  he  might  deliver  New-England 
from  the  unjust  and  cruel  Arms  of  Britain,  and  defend  the  other  Col 
onies  ;  and  who,  by  the  most  signal  Smiles  of  Divine  Providence  on 
his  Military  Operations,  drove  the  Fleet  and  Troops  of  the  Enemy  with 
disgraceful  Precipitation  from  the  Town  of  Boston,  which,  for  Eleven 
Months  had  been  shut  up,  fortified  and  defended  by  a  Garrison  of  above 
Seven  Thousand  Regulars;  So  that  the  Inhabitants,  who  suffered  a 
great  variety  of  Hardships  and  Cruelties  while  under  the  Power  of  the 
Oppressors,  now  rejoice  in  their  Deliverance,  and  the  neighboring 
Towns  are  freed  from  the  Tumult  of  Arms,  and  our  University  has  the 
agreeable  Prospect  of  being  restored  to  its  antient  Seat. 

Know  ye  therefore,  that  We,  the  President  and  Fellows  of  Harvard 
College  in  Cambridge,  (with  the  Consent  of  the  Honored  and  Reverend 
Overseers  of  our  Academy)  have  constituted  and  created  the  aforesaid 
Gentleman,  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  who  merits  the  highest 
Honor,  DOCTOR  OF  LAWS,  the  Law  of  Nature  and  Nations,  and  the 
Civil  Law;  and  have  given  and  granted  unto  him  at  the  same  Time  all 
Rights,  Privileges,  and  Honors  to  the  said  Degree  pertaining. 

In  Testimony  whereof,  We  have  affixed  the  Seal  of  our  University 
to  these  Letters,  and  subscribed  with  our  Hand  writing  this  Third  Day 
of  April  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and 
Seventy-six. 

SAMUEL  LANGDON,  S.  T.  D.  Prases. 


NATHANAEL  APPLETON,  S.  T.  D. 
JOHANNES  WINTHROP,  Math,  et  Phil.  P. 

Hol.LL.D. 

ANDREAS  ELIOT,  S.  T.  D. 
SAMUEL  COOPER,  S.  T.  D.      . 
JOHANNES  WADS  WORTH,  Log.  et  Eth.  Pre. 

Thesaurarius. 


>  Socii. 


The  removal  to  Boston  occasioned  a  suspension  of  the 
Chronicle  for  two  weeks.  It  appeared  then  without  its 
second  title.  When  he  had  published  seven  numbers  in 


SAMUEL    HALL.  225 

Boston,  Hall  sold  the  whole  concern  to  Edward  Eveleth 
Powars  and  Nathaniel  Willis.  He  took  leave  of  the 
public  in  a  short  and  respectful  note,  presenting  "  his 
thanks  to  all,  who  had  favored  him  with  their  custom, 
and  thereby  enabled  him  to  continue  the  publication  of 
his  paper." 

Not  long  after  this  disposition  of  his  property,  Hall 
returned  to  Salem,  where  in  October,  1781,  he  began 
the  publication  of  a  new  paper,  called 

THE  SALEM  GAZETTE.* 

This  publication  he  continued  till  near  the  end  of  the 
year  1785,  when  he  again  removed  to  Boston.  The 
reasons  for  this  removal  are  given  in  the  Gazette  of 
November  15,  with  the  frankness  and  modesty,  which 
were  well-known  traits  in  the  character  of  Samuel  Hall. 
"  The  printer  hereof  (he  said)  has  found,  by  a  careful 
examination,  that  the  tax  upon  newspaper  advertise 
ments  has,  in  conjunction  with  the  decline  of  trade,  op 
erated  so  injuriously  as  to  deprive  him  of  nearly  three 
quarters  of  that  branch  of  his  business ;  and  he  con 
ceives  it  to  be  his  duty  not  to  suffer  so  great  a  diminu 
tion  in  his  living,  without,  at  least,  attempting  to  repair 
it.  For  this  purpose  he  has  consulted  such,  in  whose 
friendship  he  can  fully  confide,  and  they  have  unani 
mously  advised  his  removal  to  Boston."  He  further 
stated  that  he  felt  impelled  to  this  step,  with  a  view  of 
extending  his  business,  and  of  avoiding  the  extraordinary 

*  This  was  the  second  paper  printed  in  Salem,  with  the  title  of  Salem  Gazette. 
Mary  Crouch,  the  widow  of  Samuel  Crouch,  who  had  printed  a  paper  in  Charles 
ton,  S.  C.  removed  from  that  place  to  Salem,  in  1780,  with  the  press  and  types 
that  had  belonged  to  her  husband,  and,  in  January  1781,  issued  the  first  number 
of  the  Salem  Gazette  and  General  Advertiser.  Thirty-four  numbers  only  were 
published. 


226  SALEM    GAZETTE. 

expense  attending  the  carrying  it  on  in  Salem,  —  alluding 
to  the  difficulty  of  procuring  the  latest  news,  and  of  dis 
tributing  his  paper  when  it  was  printed.  "  No  reasona 
ble  person  (he  added)  who  has  a  tolerable  acquaintance 
with  the  business,  and  wishes  that  it  might  not  be  crushed, 
can  desire  that,  in  addition  to  this,  it  should  be  burthened 
with  a  heavy  governmental  tax."  "  He  proposes  to 
publish  his  first  paper  in  Boston  on  Monday,  the  28th 
inst."  "  His  good  friends  and  customers  in  this  town 
[Salem]  are  requested  to  consider  this  step  as  dictated 
by  what  he  conceives  to  be  a  just  regard  to  his  interest, 
and  in  compliance  with  the  unanimous  advice  of  his 
nearest  connections.  He  will  always  endeavor,  in  his 
publications,  as  opportunity  presents,  to  promote  the  in 
terest  and  reputation  of  the  town  of  Salem,  to  which  he 
shall  ever  consider  himself  as  under  very  great  obliga 
tions." 

The  act  laying  a  duty  on  advertisements,  went  into 
operation  on  the  second  of  August,  preceding.  In  the 
Gazette  of  that  day,  Hall  announced  the  fact,  and  ad 
ded,  —  "  No  printer  can  now  advertise,  even  in  his  own 
paper,  any  books  or  pieces  of  piety  or  devotion,  not  ex 
cepting  the  HOLY  BIBLE,  without  paying  a  heavy  tax 
for  it.  How  this  accords  with  His  Excellency's  late 
1  Proclamation  for  the  encouragement  of  Piety,  Virtue, 
Education,  and  Manners,'  let  the  framers  of  the  act  de 
termine."  "  Were  it  not  for  the  tax  upon  advertising 
good  books,  the  Printer  hereof  would  inform  the  Public, 
that  he  has  just  published  '  Extracts  from  Dr.  Priest 
ley's  Catechism/  which  he  sells  at  five  coppers  single, 
and  two  shillings  the  dozen."  About  a  fortnight  after, 
the  following  communication  appeared  :  — 


SAMUEL    HALL.  227 

To  the  Printer  of  the  Salem  Gazette. 

I  hear  that  you  have  for  sale  Dr.  Watts's  Imitation  of  the  Psalms  of 
David,  corrected  and  enlarged,  with  a  Collection  of  Hymns,  in  one  vol 
ume  ;  —  that  the  Psalms,  locally  appropriated  in'the  Doctor's  version, 
have  been  altered  by  Mr.  Joel  Barlow,  of  Hartford,  and  the  whole  ap 
plied  to  the  state  of  the  Christian  Church  in  general ;  —  and  that,  by  a 
Law,  lately  passed,  which,  like  the  Stamp  Act,  is  of  extraction  truly 
British,  you  are  restrained  from  advertising  them,  unless  you  pay  a 
heavy  tax  for  it.  As  several  of  my  neighbors,  as  well  as  myself,  are  in 
want  of  this  valuable  book,  I  hope  you  will  not  fail  of  supplying  us. 

J.    Pv. 

Agreeably  to    his   notice,  on   Monday,  the   28th  of 
November,    Hall   sent   out,   from   his   printing-office   in 
Boston  the  first  of  his  proposed  paper,  under  the  title  of 
THE  MASSACHUSETTS   GAZETTE, 

which  he  conducted  alone,  till  June,  1787,  when  he 
took,  as  a  partner,  J.  Wincoll  Allen,  a  young  man  who 
had  been  some  time  employed  in  the  office.  In  Sep 
tember  following,  he  sold  out  his  right  in  the  paper  to 
Allen,*  and  confined  himself  to  the  printing  and  sale  of 
small  books,  blanks,  pamphlets,  &c.  at  a  store  which  he 
had  rented  in  State-street,  on  the  north  side  of  the  state- 
house.  At  a  later  period,  he  opened  a  book  and  sta 
tionery  store,  at  No.  53,  Cornhill.  In  1789,  he  printed 
a  newspaper  in  the  French  language,  for  Joseph  Nan- 
crede,  a  French  emigrant,  who  kept  a  bookstore  in 
Marlboro'-street,  nearly  opposite  the  site  of  the  Marlboro' 
hotel,  and  received  pupils  for  instruction  in  French. 
This  paper  was  given  up  at  the  end  of  six  months.  Mr. 
Hall  carried  on,  —  extensively  for  those  days,  —  the 
printing  and  publishing  of  small  books,  embellished  with 
cuts,  and  published  some  octavo  and  duodecimo  volumes. 

*The  paper  was,  probably,  discontinued  soon  after  it  went  into  Allen's  posses 
sion.  Only  a  few  numbers,  with  Allen's  imprint,  are  to  be  found. 


228  SAMUEL,     HALL. 

He  had  almost  the  whole  sale  of  blanks  for  legal  instru 
ments,  for  the  county  of  Suffolk  and  Middlesex,  and, 
for  several  years  had  the  printing  of  all  the  blanks  used 
in  the  custom  house  in  Boston.  In  1805,  he  sold  his 
whole  establishment,  —  printing  materials,  books,  blanks, 
&c.  —  to  Lincoln  &  Edrnands,  and  retired  from  business. 
SAMUEL  HALL  was  born  in  Medford,  Massachusetts, 
and  served  an  apprenticeship  with  an  uncle,  Daniel 
Fowle,  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one,  he  went  into  partnership  with  Ann  Franklin,  the 
widow  of  James  Franklin,  at  Newport,  R.  I.  In  1768, 
he  left  Newport,  and  opened  a  printing-office  in  Salem, 
—  as  has  been  already  stated.  He  died  on  the  tenth  of 
October,  1807,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  He  was  re 
spected  by  every  one  who  knew  him,  as  a  just,  an  up 
right,  and  a  religious  man.  He  was  an  excellent  printer, 
as  many  of  his  publications,  still  extant,  abundantly  tes 
tify.  The  country  had  no  firmer  friend,  in  the  gloomiest 
period  of  its  history,  as  well  as  in  the  days  of  its  young 
and  increasing  prosperity,  than  SAMUEL  HALL. 

The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just 
Shall  flourish  when  he  sleeps  in  dust. 


THE  MASSACHUSETTS  SPY. 


ISAIAH  THOMAS,  the  original  projector,  one  of  the 
original  proprietors,  and  afterwards,  for  many  years,  the 
sole  owner  of  the  Massachusetts  Spy,  was  born  in  Bos 
ton,  on  the  nineteenth  of  January,  1749.  His  ances 
tors,  who  were  of  good  repute,  emigrated  from  England, 
and  settled  near  Boston,  soon  after  the  foundation  of  the 
town.  His  father,  Moses  Thomas,  was  soldier,  mariner, 
trader,  and  farmer,  at  different  periods.  After  losing,  by  a 
series  of  unfortunate  circumstances,  a  generous  patrimony, 
he  died  in  North  Carolina,  about  the  year  1752,  leaving 
in  Boston  a  widow  in  a  destitute  condition,  with  five 
children.  Isaiah  was  the  youngest  of  these,  and  when 
six  years  old,  was  apprenticed  to  Zechariah  Fowle,  —  a 
printer  of  pamphlets,  ballads,  tracts,  hand-bills,  &c. 
He  was  employed  in  setting  types,  for  which  purpose 
he  was  placed  on  a  bench  eighteen  inches  high,  and 
extending  the  whole  length  of  a  double  frame,  which 
contained  cases  of  Roman  and  Italic  letter.  His  first 
essay  with  the  composing  stick  was  on  a  ballad,  entitled 
"  The  Lawyer's  Pedigree ; "  the  types  were  of  the  size 
called  Double  Pica. 
20 


230  ISAIAH    THOMAS. 

Thomas  remained  with  Fowle  eleven  years,  when 
they  disagreed  and  separated.  He  went  directly  to 
Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  intending  to  go  thence  to  Eng 
land,  for  the  purpose  of  improvement  in  his  profession. 
This  intention  was  defeated  by  want  of  means  to  defray 
expenses.  He  remained  in  Halifax  seven  months,  in 
the  office  of  the  Halifax  Gazette.  The  printer  of  this 
paper,  whose  name  was  Henry,  was  not  a  very  skilful 
mechanic.  He  is  represented  as  being  indolent  and 
inattentive  to  his  business.  From  this  man  Thomas 
accepted  an  offer  of  board  for  his  services,  and  the  sole 
management  of  the  Gazette  devolved  upon  him.  While 
he  was  thus  employed,  certain  paragraphs  appeared  in 
the  Gazette,  which  gave  offence  to  the  government  of 
the  province.  Henry  was  admonished,  and  threatened 
with  a  prosecution,  but  was  let  off  with  an  apology. 
An  effigy  of  the  stamp-master  was  exhibited,  and  some 
other  proceedings  took  place,  which  were  called  sedi 
tious,  in  which,  it  was  supposed  Thomas  had  some 
agency.  An  attempt  was  made  to  intimidate  him,  but 
it  proved  unsuccessful.  He,  however,  deemed  it  pru 
dent  to  leave  the  place. 

From  Halifax,  Thomas  went  to  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 
in  March,  1767,  and  worked  some  time  in  the  printing- 
offices  of  Daniel  Fowle  and  Russell  &  Furber.  In 
July  he  returned  to  Boston,  and  was  employed  several 
months  in  the  office  of  his  old  master,  Zechariah  Fowle. 
Afterwards  he  went  to  North  Carolina,  with  an  intention 
of  carrying  on  the  printing  business  at  Wilmington  ;  but, 
after  a  series  of  embarrassing  incidents,  he  relinquished 
his  purpose ;  and,  with  a  second  resolution  to  visit  Eng 
land,  he  entered  as  a  steward  on  board  a  ship  bound  to 


ISAIAH    THOMAS.  231 

the  West-Indies,  intending  to  go  thence  to  London. 
After  performing  duty  on  board  for  ten  days,  he  changed 
his  views,  and  went  to  Charleston,  S.  C.  Here  he  was 
employed  for  a  period  of  two  years,  in  a  printing-office. 
In  1770,  he  returned  to  Boston,  and  entered  into  part 
nership  with  his  former  master,  Fowle.  In  July,  they 
issued  the  first  number  of  a  small  newspaper,  called 
The  Massachusetts  Spy.  It  was  generally  printed  on 
a  quarter  of  a  sheet,  (but  occasionally  on  a  half  sheet 
of  four  quarto  pages,)  and  on  a  Long  Primer  type. 
Their  address  to  the  public  was  simply  a  few  common 
place  promises  to  take  great  care  in  collecting  the  fresh 
est  and  most  authentic  intelligence,  the  material  transac 
tions  of  the  town  and  province,  &;c.  &c. 

The  first  number  of  the  Spy  was  distributed,  gratui 
tously,  to  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  and  the  vicinity. 
The  publishers  proposed  to  continue  it,  thrice  a  week, 
on  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and  Saturday.  The  second 
number  was  published  on  the  second  day  of  August,  and 
it  was  thenceforward  issued  three  times  a  week,  agreeably 
to  their  proposals,  for  three  months.  At  the  end  of  that 
time,  their  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  the  publica 
tion  was  continued  by  Thomas,  twice  a  week,  for  three 
months  longer.  Encouraged  by  his  success,  he  enter 
tained  the  project  of  publishing  a  larger  paper  than  had 
then  been  undertaken  in  New-England  ;  and,  on  the 
seventh  of  March,  1771,  he  published  the  Spy  on  a 
whole  sheet,  royal  size,  folio,  four  pages.  To  the  title 
he  added,  — "  A  weekly  political  and  commercial  pa 
per  ;  Open  to  all  parties,  but  influenced  by  none."  He 
considered  this  as  a  new  publication,  and  called  it  No.  1. 
The  title,  Massachusetts  Spy,  was  in  large  German  text, 


232  MASSACHUSETTS    SPY. 

engraved  on  type  metal,  and  stood  between  two  cuts,  — 


that  on  the  left  representing  the  goddess  of  Liberty ;  — 
that  on  the  right  representing  two  infants,  selecting  flow 
ers  from  a  basket.  The  publication  day  was  Thursday. 
When  the  first  paper  in  this  new  form  was  published, 
the  subscribers  did  not  amount  to  two  hundred.  After 
the  first  week  they  increased,  almost  daily,  and,  at  the 
end  of  two  years  the  subscription-list  was  larger  than 
that  of  any  of  its  competitors.  It  was  well  supplied 
with  political  essays,  adapted  particularly  to  the  taste 
and  disposition  of  that  class  of  citizens,  who  had  com 
posed  the  majority  of  its  subscribers,  when  it  was  pub 
lished  in  the  smaller  and  cheaper  form.  For  a  few 
weeks,  some  communications  were  sent  in  by  writers, 
who  supported  the  proceedings  of  the  government ;  but 
those  on  the  other  side  were  more  numerous  ;  and,  not 
withstanding  the  readiness,  with  which  he  published 
articles  prepared  by  the  friends  of  the  ruling  powers,  it 
was  well  known  that  Thomas's  political  partialities  were 
all  on  the  side  of  the  Whigs.  It  was  not  long  before 
all  the  tory  writers  denounced  the  paper,  and  all  the 


ISAIAH    THOMAS.  233 

subscribers,  who  adhered  to  the  government  party,  with 
drew  their  support.  The  Spy  was  then  devoted  entirely 
to  the  cause  of  the  Whigs,  and  the  Whigs  gave  it  a  cor 
dial  and  generous  support.  Many  attempts  were  made 
to  annoy  the  publisher,  but  without  effect.  He  contin 
ued  to  publish,  boldly,  and  to  defy  all  tory  opposition, 
though  he  was  frequently  threatened  with  personal  vio 
lence.  To  indicate  his  resolution  to  uphold  the  cause 
of  the  Whigs,  he  added,  as  a  motto,  to  the  head  of  his 
paper,  the  well  known  lines  from  Addison's  Cato,  — 

Do  thou,  great  Liberty,  inspire  our  souls, 
And  make  our  lives  in  thy  possession  happy, 
Or  our  deaths  glorious  in  thy  just  defence  ! 

In  October,  1772,  the  words  "  Thomas's  Boston 
Journal,"  were  added  to  the  title  of  the  Spy. 

Various  attempts  were  made  to  injure  the  circulation 
and  usefulness  of  the  Spy,  and  to  annoy  its  editor  in  the 
pursuit  of  his  profession.  Among  other  pitiful  and  pal 
try  acts  of  the  Tories  to  this  effect,  was  their  refusal  to 
permit  him  to  obtain  from  the  custom-house  an  account 
of  the  arrivals  and  clearances  at  the  port  of  Boston,  — 
an  act,  which  produced  the  following  Card  in  the  Spy  :  — 

To  THE  PUBLIC.  A  Tyrant  may  be  justly  compared  to  a  Polypus, 
of  which  the  smallest  portion  broken  off  becomes  almost  immediately 
as  big,  as  voracious,  and  as  deformed  a  thing,  as  the  original ;  entan 
gling,  plaguing,  and  engulphing  every  thing  within  its  reach  and  power. 
How  applicable  this  may  be  to  our  petty  lords,  the  custom-house  officers, 
every  one  is  left  to  judge,  after  being  informed  that  THEY,  to  discourage 
this  paper,  as  they  phrase  it,  have  denied  THIS  Press  the  SHIP  LIST, 
notwithstanding,  according  to  the  title,  pieces  from  all  sides  have  been 
inserted  in  it.  The  Printer  conceives  himself  in  no  wise  to  blame  if 
the  Court  side  are  now  at  a  loss  for  writers,  it  being  his  province  only  to 
publish. 

In  a  postscript,  it  was  added  that  the  Shipping  List 
20* 


234  MASSACHUSETTS    SPY. 

had  been  "  refused  by  a  Brother  Typo,  influenced  by  his 
masters  at  the  custom-house." 

This  produced  a  note  from  Richard  Draper,  the  print 
er  of  the  Massachusetts  Gazette  and  News-Letter,  in 
which  he  acknowledged  that  he  refused  to  furnish  the 
Shipping  List  for  the  Spy,  under  the  influence  of  the 
custom-house  officers  ;  and  charged  Thomas  with  having 
altered  his  publication  day,  for  the  purpose  of  injuring 
the  Gazette.  In  his  reply,  Thomas  justified  the  change 
he  had  adopted,  and  added,  —  "The  judicious  public 
will  determine  for  themselves  whether  your  respectable 
characters  or  their  invaluable  rights  and  privileges  be 
most  worthy  of  their  attention,  and,  undoubtedly  afford 
their  countenance  and  patronage  accordingly." 

Draper  continued  to  pour  out  his  tory  invective,  and 
several  other  measures  were  adopted  by  his  friends  and 
supporters  to  crush  the  Printer  of  the  Spy.  One  of  the 
mean  attempts  of  Governor  Hutchinson,  to  deprive  him 
of  a  job,  is  thus  noticed  by  Thomas  :  — 

"  If  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him."  If  thy  (supposed)  enemy  hun 
ger,  STARVE  him,  is  the  pontifical  language  of  a  man  in  power,  of  whose 
piety  and  virtue  we  have  lately  had  such  blustering  accounts. 

The  generality  of  the  people  in  this  town,  and  some  persons  of  dis 
tinction  in  Cambridge,  know  very  well  what  pains  have  been  taken  by  a 
man,  whom  we  could  not  more  disgrace  than  by  saying,  that  he  is,  and 

how  he  became,  the  g of  this  p e,*  to  bring  an 

innocent  man,  and  even  offering  to  assist  in  this  diabolical  work ;  Long 
ago  would  I  have  stopped  the  Press,  could  I  but  have  persuaded  the 

f  to  have  joined  with  me,"  we  are  told,  were  the  words  of 

his t  The  effecting  this,  no  doubt,  would  have  been 

productive  of  an  infernal  pleasure ;  and  most  likely,  his \ 

would,  as  Milton  expresses  it,  have  "  Grinned  horribly  a  ghastly  smile ! " 
The  mean  and  low  attempts  of  this  great  man  to  get  a  small  job,  that 
came  unsought  for,  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Printer  hereof,  and  put  it 

*  Governor  of  this  province. 

f  Council.  \  Excellency. 


ISAIAH    THOMAS.  235 

into  the  hands  of  a  tool  of  his,  needs  but  to  he  told,  to  make  it  appear 
that  he  is  a  TYRANT  in  the  ABSTRACT. 

Draper  continued  his  attacks  upon  the  Spy,  several  of 
which  Thomas  suffered  to  pass  unnoticed.  At  length, 
his  patience  appears  to  have  become  exhausted,  and  he 
gave  out  his  intention  of  having  no  more  to  do  in  the 
quarrel,  in  this  manner  :  — 

To  Mr.  RICHARD  DRAPER. 
Recollecting  Sir  ! 

If  your  customers  are  satisfied  to  maintain  a  weekly 
newspaper,  sacred  to  the  ebullitions  of  your  envy  and  private  resent 
ment,  I  have  nothing  to  say  in  the  affair.  But  though  I  might  perfectly 
equal  you  in  random  invective,  I  have  not  the  ambition  to  conceit  my 
performances  would  add  any  thing  considerable  to  the  entertainment  of 
my  generous  encouragers ;  whom  I  wish  to  divert  in  a  much  more 
agreeable  manner,  than  by  any  thing  which  can  arise  from  the  uninter 
esting  squabbles  of  Mr.  R.  Draper  and  I.  THOMAS. 

Among  the  contributors  to  the  Spy,  were  several 
powerful  writers.  A  series  of  numbers,  entitled  The 
Centinel,  begun  soon  after  the  publication  of  the  paper 
in  its  new  form,  exposed,  in  a  powerful  style,  the  injust 
ice  of  the  acts  of  Parliament,  and  stated  the  grievances 
that  the  people  suffered.  The  series  extended  to  more 
than  forty  numbers.  The  motto  to  the  first  was, 

The  child,  that  is  unborn,  will  rue 
The  hunting  of  that  day,  — 

from  the  ballad  of  Chevy  Chase.  A  writer,  under  the 
signature  of  Leonidas,  endeavored  to  stir  up  the  spirit  of 
the  people,  and  skilfully  controverted  the  essays  written 
for  the  tory  papers.  But  the  boldest  writer  for  the 
Whigs,  was  Mucius  Scaevola.  In  one  of  his  communi 
cations,  he  proved,  by  quotations  from  the  records  of  the 
Council,  that  Mr.  Oliver,  the  Li euten ant-Governor,  then 
"  stood  recorded  as  a  perjured  traitor."  In  the  next  paper 
he  attacked  Governor  Hutchinson,  and  undertook  to 


236  MASSACHUSETTS     SPY. 

show  that  Hutchinson  was  not  the  legal  governor  of  the 
province,  but  a  usurper,  —  that  "  he  ought  to  be  dis 
missed  and  punished  as  a  usurper,  —  and  that  the  Coun 
cil,  according  to  charter,  should  take  upon  themselves 
the  government  of  the  Province."  For  the  publishing 
of  this  article,  the  attorney-general  was  ordered  to  prose 
cute  the  printer  for  a  libel ;  but  the  Grand  Jury  refused 
to  indict  him.  Mucius  Scaevola  continued  to  write  and 
Thomas  to  publish. 

In  July,  1774,  during  the  operation  of  the  Boston 
Port  Bill,  and  soon  after  the  landing  of  four  regiments 
of  British  soldiers,  with  a  train  of  artillery,  the  Spy 
appeared  with  a  new  political  device  at  its  head,  repre 
senting  a  snake  and  a  dragon.  The  dragon  represented 
Great  Britain,  and  the  snake  the  Colonies.  The  snake 
was  divided  into  nine  parts :  the  head  was  one  part,  and 
under  it  were  the  letters  N.  E.  denoting  New-England  ; 
the  second  part,  N.  Y.  for  New- York  ;  the  third  N.  J. 
for  New-Jersey ;  the  fourth  P.  for  Pennsylvania ;  the 
fifth  M.  for  Maryland ;  the  sixth  V.  for  Virginia ;  the 
seventh  N.  C.  for  North  Carolina ;  the  eighth  S.  C. 
for  South  Carolina ;  and  the  ninth  part  for  Georgia. 
This  device  extended  across  the  entire  width  of  the 
page,  and  over  it,  in  large  capitals  was  the  motto, 

"  JOIN    OR    DTE."* 

Having  rendered  himself  peculiarly  obnoxious  to  the 
resentment  of  the  Tories,  and  being  openly  threatened 
with  violence  by  some  of  the  British  soldiery,  Thomas 
thought  that  his  personal  safety  demanded  that  he  should 


*  This  device  was  not  entirely  original  with  Thomas.  The  snake,  divided, 
with  the  motto,  was  first  published  in  an  anonymous  paper,  called  the  Constitu 
tional  Courant,  said  to  have  been  printed  at  Burlington,  New-Jersey,  in  1768.  See 
page  245. 


ISAIAH    THOMAS.  237 

leave  Boston.  Accordingly,  a  few  days  previous  to  the 
affair  at  Lexington,  he  packed  up  his  press  and  a  por 
tion  of  his  types,  and  sent  them  by  night,  across  the 
river  to  Charlestown,  —  whence  they  were  conveyed  to 
Worcester.  The  press  and  types  constituted  the  whole 
of  the  property,  saved  from  the  proceeds  of  five  years  of 
labor ;  the  remainder  was  destroyed  or  carried  away  by 
the  followers  and  adherents  of  the  royal  army  when  it 
left  the  town. 

On  the  night  of  the  eighteenth  of  April,  Thomas  was 
concerned  with  Paul  Revere  and  others  in  giving  inform 
ation  that  the  British  troops  were  crossing  Charles 
River,  with  the  supposed  intention  of  destroying  the 
military  stores,  that  had  been  collected  by  the  provincial 
authorities  at  Concord.  At  day-break,  the  next  day  he 
joined  the  provincial  militia  at  Lexington,  to  oppose  the 
progress  of  the  British  troops.  The  next  day  he  pro 
ceeded  to  Worcester,  and  prepared  to  publish  his  paper 
at  that  place. 

On  the  third  of  May,  —  four  weeks  after  the  publica 
tion  had  been  suspended  in  Boston,  —  the  Spy  was  pre 
sented  to  the  public  in  Worcester.  This  was  the  first 
printing  that  was  executed  in-  any  inland  town  in  New- 
England.  It  was  now  entitled  "  The  Massachusetts 
Spy:  Or,  An  American  Oracle  of  Liberty."  Over  the 
title  was  the  motto,  —  "  Americans  !  —  Liberty  or  Death ! 
—  Join  or  Die  !  " 

The  first  number  published  at  Worcester  was  intro 
duced  by  the  following  brief  notice  to  the  Public :  — 

The  good  people  of  this  county,  at  a  meeting  some  time  since,  voted 
to  encourage  the  establishment  of  a  Printing-Office  in  this  place.  In 
consequence  thereof,  application  was  made  to  me,  then  in  Boston,  to 


238  MASSACHUSETTS    SPY. 

issue  proposals  for  publishing  a  weekly  Newspaper  in  this  town,  to  be 
entitled,  The  WORCESTER  GAZETTE,  or  American  Oracle  of  Liberty. 
This  I  accordingly  did ;  Since  that  time,  things  have  worn  a  different 
face  in  our  distressed  capital,  and  it  was  thought  highly  necessary  that 
I  should  remove  my  printing  materials  from  Boston  to  this  place,  and 
instead  of  publishing  the  intended  Worcester  Gazette,  &c.  continue  the 
publication  of  the  well-known  Massachusetts  Spy,  or  Thomas's  Boston 
Journal :  I  accordingly  removed  my  printing  utensils  from  Boston  on 
the  memorable  nineteenth  of  April,  1775,  which  will  be  remembered  in 
future  as  the  anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Lexington.  I  intend  pub 
lishing  this  paper  regularly  every  Wednesday,  and  have  made  an  alter 
ation  in  the  title,  in  order  to  take  in  part  of  that  intended  for  the 
Gazette. 

I  beg  the  assistance  of  all  the  friends  to  our  righteous  cause  to  circu 
late  this  paper.  They  may  rely  that  the  utmost  of  my  poor  endeavors 
shall  be  used  to  maintain  those  rights  and  privileges,  for  which  we  and 
our  Fathers  have  bled  !  and  that  all  possible  care  shall  be  taken  to  pro 
cure  the  most  interesting  and  authentic  intelligence. 

I  am  the  Public's  most  obedient  Servant, 
ISAIAH  THOMAS. 

In  the  Spy  of  May  31,  1776,  Thomas  gave  notice 
that  he  proposed  to  remove  to  Boston,  —  urged  his  cus 
tomers  to  settle  as  soon  as  possible,  —  and  said  he  was 
willing  to  do  all  in  his  power,  towards  continuing  a 
printing-office  in  Worcester.  He  added,  "  If  a  sufficient 
number  of  subscribers  appear,  to  continue  to  support  the 
publication  of  a  newspaper  in  this  town,  a  Press,  in  all 
probability  will  be  continued,  and  a  public  paper  regu 
larly  printed  each  week  after  the  handbill  is  out." 

The  next  number  of  the  Spy  was  published  on  the 
twenty-first  of  June,  following,  by  William  Stearns  and 
Daniel  Bigelow,  under  a  lease  from  the  proprietor. 
They  adopted  a  new  motto  ;  —  "  Undaunted  by  Tyrants, 
we  will  die  or  be  free."  After  a  suitable  explanation 
touching  their  business  arrangements,  they  say,  — 

The  liberty  and  free  exercise  of  the  Press,  is  the  greatest  temporal 
safeguard  of  the  State.  It  assists  the  civil  magistrate  in  wielding  the 


STEARNS    AND    B1GELOW.  239 

sword  of  justice — holds  up  to  public  view  the  vicious,  in  their  truly 
odious  colors  —  and  "  is  a  praise  and  encouragement  to  them  that  do 
well."  It  detects  political  impostors,  and  is  a  terrific  scourge  to  tyrants. 
None  can  notoriously  transgress  the  line  of  duty,  who  may  not  be 
hereby  subjected  to  public  contempt  and  ignominy.  It  is  one  grand 
mean  of  promoting  public  virtue.  It  conveys  knowledge  to  mankind, 
by  acquainting  them  with  the  state  of  the  community  to  which  they 
belong,  whereby  they  are  better  able  to  regulate  their  police  —  to  sup 
ply  its  defects,  or  lop  off  its  excrescences.  It  serves  to  increase  the 
majesty  of  the  people,  by  giving  them  understanding  in  the  times,  and 
conveying  to  them  "  the  knowledge  of  what  Israel  ought  to  do."  In 
fine,  it  is  capable  of  being  made  the  source  of  general  literature. 

DANIEL  BIGELOW  was  born  in  Worcester,  April  27, 
1752,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1775.  After 
surrendering  the  Spy  to  its  proprietor,  in  1777,  he  began 
the  study  of  the  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1780.  He  opened  an  office  in  Petersham,  represented 
that  town  in  the  General  Court  from  1790  to  1795,  was 
a  member  of  the  executive  council  in  1801,  and  was 
some  time  county  attorney.  He  died  at  Petersham, 
November  5,  1806.* 

WILLIAM  STEARNS  was  a  native  of  Lunenburg,  in  the 
county  of  Worcester,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  1770.  He  studied  divinity,  and  preached  for  a  short 
time,  but  was  not  settled  as  a  clergyman.  He  then  de 
voted  himself  to  the  profession  of  the  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  December,  1776.  He  opened 
an  office  in  Worcester,  and  his  professional  business  was 
considerable,  till  his  early  death,  in  1784.f 

These  gentlemen  conducted  the  Spy  one  year.  It 
was  then  leased,  for  another  year,  to  Anthony  Haswell. 
These  two  years, — or  a  part  of  them,  —  were  spent  by 
Thomas  in  Boston  and  Salem.  In  the  place  last  men- 

*  Lincoln's  History  of  Worcester,  p.  265.  f  Ibid.  p.  232. 


240 


MASSACHUSETTS    SPY. 


tioned,  it  was  his  intention  to  carry  on  the  business  of 
printing  ;  but  not  succeeding  according  to  his  wishes,  he 
sold  the  materials  he  had  carried  there,  returned  to 
Worcester,  and  resumed  the  publication  of  the  Spy,  with 
a  new  motto,  —  "  Unanimity  at  Home,  and  Bravery  and 
Perseverance  in  the  Field,  will  secure  the  Independence 
of  America." 

In  1781,  the  Spy  was  greatly  improved  in  its  paper  and 
typography,  with  an  engraved  title,  and  these  two  devices 
at  its  head,  —  the  design  of  which  would  hardly  be  un 
derstood,  without  the  explanation  given  by  Thomas  :  — 


The  device  on  the  left  is  a  figure  representing  America,  an  Indian, 
holding  the  cap  of  Liberty  on  a  staff  with  the  left  hand,  and,  in  the 
right,  a  spear,  aimed  at  the  British  Lion,  which  appears  attacking  her 
from  the  opposite  shore.  That  on  the  right  is  a  chain  of  thirteen  links, 
with  a  star  in  each  link,  representing  the  union  of  the  thirteen  States  : 
the  chain  is  placed  in  a  circular  form,  leaving  an  opening  for  the  arms  of 
France,  to  which  the  ends  of  the  chain  are  attached.  Above  the  arms 
are  two  hands  clasped,  and,  directly  over  them  a  sword,  with  its  hilt 
resting  on  the  clasped  hands. 

The  title  now  was  "  Thomas's  Massachusetts  Spy  ;  or 
the  Worcester  Gazette,"  with  the  motto,  —  "  The  noble 
Efforts  of  a  Virtuous,  Free,  and  United  People,  shall 
extirpate  Tyranny,  and  establish  Liberty  and  Peace." 


ISAIAH    THOMAS.  241 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  the 
paper  was  enlarged,  each  page  containing  five  columns, 
and  printed  on  new  types.  The  motto  was  again 
changed  to  "Noscere  res  humanas  est  Hominis  —  Know 
ledge  of  the  World  is  essentially  necessary  for  every 
Man."  The  Spy  was  well  conducted,  and  filled  with 
excellent  matter.  Besides  selections  of  news  and  com 
munications  on  interesting  subjects,  the  whole  of  Rob 
ertson's  History  of  America,  Gordon's  History  of  the 
Revolution,  and  large  extracts  from  Guthrie's  Geogra 
phy  and  other  British  publications,  enriched  its  pages, 
and  rendered  it  more  valuable  than  any  other  paper  pub 
lished  in  Massachusetts.  A  series  of  essays  entitled  the 
Worcester  Speculator,  appeared  weekly.  These  were 
furnished  by  a  society  of  gentlemen  in  the  county  of 
Worcester,  of  whom  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fiske  of  Brookfield 
was  one.  The  numbers,  written  by  him,  together  with 
some  other  pieces  of  his  composition,  were  afterwards 
printed  in  two  duodecimo  volumes,  entitled  "  The  Moral 
Monitor." 

Occasional  improvements  were  made  in  the  mechan 
ical  appearance  and  in  the  literary  character  of  the  Spy, 
until  March,  1786,  when  the  proprietor  suddenly  sus 
pended  the  publication,  and  issued  a  few  numbers  of  a 
periodical,  which  he  called  the  "  Worcester  Magazine," — 
intended  as  a  substitute  for  the  Spy, — but  the  attempt 
was  not  successful.  The  avowed  reason  for  suspending 
the  publication  of  the  Spy,  was  the  tax  laid  on  "  licensed 
vellum,  parchment,  and  paper,"  by  the  Legislature  of 
Massachusetts,  passed  in  March,  1785.  This  act  im 
posed  a  duty  of  two  thirds  of  a  penny  on  newspapers 
and  a  penny  on  almanacks,  which  were  to  be  stamped. 
21 


242  MASSACHUSETTS    SPY. 

It  was  extremely  unpopular.  It  was  to  take  effect  on 
the  first  day  of  July  next  after  its  passage ;  but  the  op 
position  to  it  was  so  extensive  and  determined,  that,  at 
the  next  session  of  the  Legislature,  in  June,  1785,  it 
was  repealed.  But  another  act  was  passed,  which  im 
posed  a  duty  on  all  advertisements,  printed  in  the  news 
papers.  This  was  no  less  offensive  than  the  former  act ; 
and  was  considered  by  the  Printers  as  a  greater  griev 
ance, —  "a  shackle,  which  no  legislature  but  ours, 
either  in  British  or  United  America,  have  laid  on  the 
Press,  which,  when  free,  is  the  acknowledged  great  bul 
wark  of  Liberty,  and  the  boast  of  a  Free  and  Independ 
ent  People."  *  The  Spy  of  March  30,  1786,  has  the 
following  article,  in  large  and  imposing  type :  — 

Extra  Information.     Real! 

THE  MASSACHUSETTS  SPY  (which  it  is  acknowledged  has  been  of 
very  essential  service  to  the  cause  of  the  United  States,  and  to  this 
Commonwealth  in  particular,  before,  at,  and  since  the  late  Revolution) 
is  now  languishing  with  a  dangerous  Wound,  given  it  by  the  Legislature 
of  Massachusetts,  on  the  second  day  of  July  last.  Humble  and  united 
application  has  been  made  for  a  particular  kind  of  Court  Plaister,  which 
could  speedily  have  wrought  a  Cure  ;  but  as  that  Power,  only,  who  gave 
the  Wound,  could  apply  the  Remedy  with  effect,  it  could  not  be  ob 
tained!  The  wound  grows  worse  daily  —  Mortification  has  taken  place, 
arid  in  all  probability  will  soon  prove  fatal  to  the  existence  of  that  Old 
Publick  Servant!—"  Alas,  POOR  SPY  !  " 

Gentle  Reader,  if  thou  hast  a  benevolent  heart,  thy  compassion  will 
be  moved,  when  thou  art  informed  that  the  Wound  given  was  as  unjust 
as  it  was  unmerited  —  it  was  given  at  a  time  when  this  faithful  Servant 
of  the  Publick,  after  having  fought  the  battles  of  its  country,  was 
sounding  forth  her  Praise  —  endeavoring  to  clear  her  from  the  Asper 
sions  thrown  upon  her  by  her  enemies,  and  diligently  watching  their 
motions. 

Generous  Reader,  the  services  rendered  by  the  SPY  to  the  Publick, 
were  not  for  the  sake  of  sordid  gain,  but  from  Principle:  —  The  only 
Reward  for  fifteen  years  hard  duty  was  this  inhuman  attack  upon  its 

*  Mass.  Spy,  Sept.  29,  1785. 


ISAIAH    THOMAS,    JUN.  243 

existence  !  and  the  existence  of  all  its  near  Relations,  the  whole  Family 
of  Gazettes  in  this  Commonwealth. 

During  the  suspension  of  the  publication,  Thomas  was 
engaged  in  the  publishing  and  selling  of  books,  and  in 
making  additions  to  his  printing  apparatus.  On  the  se 
cond  day  of  April,  1788,  the  Spy  reappeared,  with  the 
following  salutatory  :  — 

The  Printer  has  the  happiness  of  once  more  presenting  to  the  Pub- 
lick,  the  MASSACHUSETTS  SPY,  or  the  WORCESTER  GAZETTE,  which 
at  length  is  restored  to  its  Constitutional  Liberty,  (thanks  to  our  present 
Legislature,)  after  a  suspension  of  two  years.  Heaven  grant  that  the 
FREEDOM  of  the  PRESS,  on  which  depends  the  FREEDOM  of  the 
PEOPLE,  may,  in  the  United  States,  ever  be  guarded  with  a  watchful 
eye,  and  defended  from  Shackles  of  every  form  and  shape,  until  the 
trump  of  the  celestial  messenger  shall  announce  the  final  dissolution  of 
all  things. 

The  Spy  was  an  advocate  for  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States,  and  joined  with  most  other  papers  in  their 
rejoicings  when  that  instrument  was  adopted,  and  went 
into  operation.  Its  editor  was  strenuous  in  favor  of 
the  introduction  and  use  of  titles.  For  a  year  or  two 
after  the  organization  of  the  Federal  government,  it  sel 
dom  spoke  of  the  President  but  as  "  His  Highness, 
George  Washington,"  or  "  His  Highness  the  President- 
General,"  &c.  Mr.  Thomas  was  connected  with  the 
Spy,  till  the  year  1801.  In  1792  it  purported  to  be 
"  printed  by  Isaiah  Thomas  and  Leonard  Worcester ;  "  — 
in  1793,  "  for  Isaiah  Thomas  and  Leonard  Worcester, 
by  Leonard  Worcester ;  "  —  in  1794,  "  by  Leonard  Wor 
cester,  for  Isaiah  Thomas;"  —  in  1801,  "by  Isaiah 
Thomas,  jun.  for  Isaiah  Thomas  &  Son  ;  "  —  and  after 
wards,  "  by  and  for  Isaiah  Thomas,  jun."  The  name 
of  the  senior  never  afterward  appeared  in  connection 
with  the  ownership  of  the  paper. 


244  MASSACHUSETTS    SPY. 

About  the  year  1814,  William  Manning,  of  Boston, 
became  the  publisher  of  the  Spy,  "  for  Isaiah  Thomas, 
jun."  A  few  years  after,  the  establishment  was  sold  to 
John  Milton  Earle,  by  whom  it  is  still  owned  and  pub 
lished.  It  is  the  oldest  newspaper  in  Massachusetts. 

Previous  to  his  relinquishing  the  Spy  to  his  son,  Mr. 
Thomas  had  extended  his  business  relations  to  several 
places.  He  was  the  senior  partner  in  the  house  of 
Thomas  &  Andrews  in  Boston,  which  carried  on  the 
business  of  printing  and  bookselling  for  many  years  sub 
sequent  to  1788.  The  Massachusetts  Magazine,  a 
monthly  periodical,  was  published  by  them  from  the  com 
mencement  of  their  partnership  till  1795.  In  1793,  he 
set  up  a  press,  published  a  paper,  and  opened  a  book 
store  at  Walpole,  N.  H.  in  connection  with  David  Car 
lisle,  one  of  his  freed  apprentices,  a  native  of  Walpole 
In  connection  with  another  of  his  apprentices  he  estab 
lished  a  paper  at  Brookfield,  in  the  county  of  Worcester. 
He  also  had  business  connections  at  Albany,  Baltimore, 
and  Newburyport.  Among  the  most  important  works, 
which  came  from  his  press  at  Worcester,  was  an  edition 
of  the  Bible  in  folio,  with  plates ;  an  edition  in  quarto, 
with  a  concordance  ;  another  edition  in  octavo,  and  a 
fourth  in  duodecimo.  The  types  for  this  edition  were 
kept  standing,  and  were  afterwards  transferred  to  the 
office  of  Thomas  &  Andrews,  in  Boston. 

In  1810,  Mr.  Thomas  published  his  History  of  Print 
ing,  in  two  volumes  octavo,  —  a  work  of  great  labor, 
and  which  will  give  him  an  undisputed  claim  to  the  re 
gard  of  posterity.  He  was  the  founder  of  the  American 
Antiquarian  Society,  to  which  he  bequeathed  his  valua 
ble  Library  and  a  building  for  its  accommodation.  He 


ISAIAH    THOMAS,    JUN.  245 

also  gave  to  the  county  of  Worcester  the  land,  on  which 
a  Court-House  was  erected,  and  to  the  town  he  made 
many  donations  of  great  value.  From  Dartmouth  Col 
lege  he  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts, 
and  that  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from  Alleghany  College. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Historical  Societies  of  Massa 
chusetts  and  New- York,  and  of  various  other  Philosoph 
ical,  Literary,  Humane,  Charitable,  and  Typographic 
Societies.  In  Freemasonry  he  filled  the  highest  and 
most  honored  stations  of  the  institution,  and  probably 
presided  on,  or  was  present  at,  more  public  conventions, 
dedications,  installations,  and  festivals,  than  any  other 
individual  of  the  fraternity.  He  was  President  of  the 
Antiquarian  Society  from  its  foundation  to  his  decease. 
He  was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  in 
1812,  but  never  legally  qualified  himself  to  perform  the 
duties  of  the  office,  and,  it  is  believed,  never  took  a  seat 
on  the  bench. 

Mr.  Thomas  died  at  his  residence  in  Worcester,  on 
the  fourth  of  April,  1831,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years,  and  his  remains  were  deposited  in  a  tomb,  which 
he  had  erected  many  years  before,  as  their  intended 
place  of  rest.  "  His  memory  will  be  kept  green,  when 
the  recollection  of  other  eminent  citizens  shall  have 
passed  in  oblivion.  His  reputation,  in  future  time,  will 
rest,  as  a  patriot,  on  the  manly  independence,  which 
gave,  —  through  the  initiatory  stages  and  progress  of  the 
Revolution,  —  the  strong  influence  of  the  press  he  di 
rected,  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  when  royal  flattery 
would  have  seduced,  and  the  power  of  government  sub 
dued  its  action."  * 

*  Lincoln's  History  of  Worcester,  p.  294. 
21* 


246 


MASSACHUSETTS     SPY. 


THE  CONSTITUTIONAL  COURANT,  referred  to  in  the 
preceding  account  of  the  Spy,  page  236,  purports  to  be 
"Printed  by  Andrew  Marvel,  at  the  sign  of  the  Bribe 
refused,  on  Constitution  Hill,  North-America,"  and  is 
dated  "Saturday,  September  21,  1765."  It  has  for  a 
motto,  "  Containing  matters  interesting  to  Liberty,  and 
nowise  repugnant  to  Loyalty."  It  is  a  half  sheet  of  me 
dium  size.  In  the  centre  of  the  title  is  the  annexed 
device :  — 


JOIN  or  DIE 

A  large  number  of  copies  of  this  paper  were  secretly 
transmitted  to  New-York,  and  there  sold  by  hawkers  and 
pedlers,  employed  for  the  purpose.  Mr.  Thomas  says 
it  was  printed  at  Burlington,  and  the  copy  now  before 
me,  which  belongs  to  the  library  of  Harvard  College, 
has  "  Burlington,  N.  J."  written  under  the  words  "  Con 
stitution  Hill."  The  same  copy  has,  under  the  name 
"  Andrew  Marvel,"  in  the  same  hand,  the  words  a  pseu- 
donyme  Wm.  Goddard."  This  copy  was  presented  to 
the  College  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  Rev.  James  Free 
man,  D.  D. ;  but  these  explanations  are  not  in  his  hand 
writing.  Mr.  Thomas,  probably,  had  not  a  copy  of  the 


ISAIAH    THOMAS.  247 

paper  before  him,  when  he  wrote  his  account  of  it ;  for 
he  calls  it  the  Constitutional  Gazette.  He  says,  —  It 
excited  some  commotion  in  New- York,  and  was  taken 
notice  of  by  the  government.  A  council  was  called, 
and  holden  at  the  Fort  in  that  city,  but  as  no  discovery 
was  made  of  the  author  or  printer,  nothing  was  done. 
One  of  the  council  demanded  of  a  hawker  named  Sam 
uel  Sweeney  "  where  that  incendiary  paper  was  print 
ed  ?  "  Sweeney,  as  he  had  been  instructed,  answered, 
"  At  Peter  Hassenclever's  iron  works,  please  your  honor." 
Peter  Hassenclever  was  a  wealthy  German,  well  known 
as  the  owner  of  extensive  iron  works  in  New-Jersey. 
Afterward,  other  publications  of  a  like  kind,  frequently 
appeared  with  an  imprint  —  "  Printed  at  Peter  Hassen 
clever's  iron  works."  Only  one  number  of  the  Constitu 
tional  Gazette  [Courant,]  was  published  ;  a  continuance 
of  it  was  never  intended.  It  was  printed  by  William 
Goddard,  at  Parker's  printing  house  at  Burlington,  — 
Goddard  having  previously  obtained  Parker's  permission 
occasionally  to  use  his  press.* 

This  paper  contained  but  two  articles,  beside  the  ad 
dress  of  the  fictitious  Andrew  Marvel. 

*  History  of  Printing,  vol.  ii.  p.  322. 


THE   INDEPENDENT   CHRONICLE. 


IN  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  1776,  Powars  & 
Willis,  having  purchased  the  New-England  Chronicle  of 
Samuel  Hall,  presented  themselves  to  the  public  as  edi 
tors  and  proprietors  of  the  paper,  saying,  — "  As  we 
shall,  besides  inserting  all  the  most  material  advices, 
both  foreign  and  domestic,  endeavor  to  select  such  pieces 
of  speculation  as  will  best  tend  to  encourage  virtue  and 
good  order  in  society,  and  particularly  such  as  may 
inspire  all  orders  of  men  with  a  true  spirit  of  resolution 
and  heroism,  in  support  of  our  invaluable  rights  and  lib- 


POWARS    AND    WILLIS.  249 

erties,  we  hope  to  be  favored  with  the  custom  of  all  the 
late  and  present  subscribers  of  this  paper.  They  may  be 
assured,  that  the  character  it  has  hitherto  sustained  in 
exposing,  condemning,  and  execrating  the  Jesuitical  and 
infernal  machinations  of  Tories  and  tyrants,  and  in  ren 
dering  praise  and  honor  to  the  manly  and  virtuous  sup 
porters  of  the  GLORIOUS  CAUSE  OF  AMERICA,  we  shall, 
with  assiduity  and  zeal,  endeavor  to  persevere."  To 
the  extent  of  their  ability,  these  editors  were  faithful  to 
their  engagements,  and  never  faltered  in  condemning  and 
opposing  all,  who  were  supposed  to  entertain  any  affec 
tion  for  the  British  government.  Their  paper  was  an 
important  auxiliary  in  promoting  and  sustaining  the  cause 
of  the  country. 

Until  November,  1776,  they  made  no  change  in  the 
title  of  the  paper.  In  that  month,  they  made  sundry 
typographical  improvements,  gave  it  the  name  of  "  Inde 
pendent  Chronicle  and  Universal  Advertiser,"  and  deco 
rated  the  head  with  the  device,  which  is  given  above. 
Independence  had  been  declared,  and  the  war  with 
Great  Britain  had  begun  in  good  earnest.  All  the  inci 
dents  of  the  conflict  were  regularly  detailed,  and  fre 
quently  accompanied  with  remarks,  indicating  entire 
devotion  to  political  national  independence,  and  a  firm 
resolution  to  support  the  position  assumed  by  the  Conti 
nental  Congress.  They  were  occasionally  aided  by  cor 
respondents.  Samuel  Adams,  and  John  Hancock,  and 
other  prominent  Whigs,  were  among  the  contributors  to 
the  columns  of  the  Chronicle.  One  of  their  correspond 
ents  sent  for  publication  the  following  verses,  which  he 
said  had  just  fallen  into  his  hands.  The  author's  name 
is  not  given.  They  are  a  parody  on  a  well-known  Song, 
that  was  popular  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  war :  — 


250  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

In  a  mouldering  cave,  where  the  oppressed  retreat, 

Columbia  sat,  wasted  with  care ; 
She  wept  for  her  Warren  —  exclaimed  against  Fate, 

And  gave  herself  up  to  despair. 
The  walls  of  her  cell  she  had  sculptured  around, 

With  the  form  of  her  favorite  son, 
And  even  the  dust,  as  it  lay  on  the  ground, 

Expressed  the  high  deeds  he  had  done. 
The  sire  of  the  gods,  from  his  crystalline  throne, 

Beheld  the  disconsolate  dame ; 
And,  moved  at  her  tears,  he  sent  Mercury  down, 

And  these  were  the  tidings  that  came :  — 
"  Columbia,  forbear !  not  a  sigh  to  alloy, 

For  thy  Warren,  so  justly  beloved ; 
Thy  griefs  shall  be  changed  into  triumphs  of  joy, 

Thy  Warren  's  not  dead,  but  removed. 
"  The  sons  of  the  earth,  the  proud  giants  of  old, 

Have  broke  from  their  darksome  abode ; 
And  this  is  the  news  —  for  in  heaven  it  is  told  — 

They  are  marching  to  war  with  the  gods. 
A  council  was  held  in  the  chambers  of  Jove, 

And  this  was  the  final  decree, 
That  Warren  should  soar  to  the  armies  above — 

And  the  charge  was  entrusted  to  me. 
"  To  Bunker's  tall  heights  with  the  orders  I  flew ; 

He  begged  for  a  moment's  delay ; 
Like  Wolfe,  cried,  — '  Forbear  !  let  me  victory  hear, 

And  then  thy  commands  I'll  obey ! ' 
He  spake — with  a  film  I  encompassed  his  eyes, 

And  bore  him  away  in  an  urn, 
Lest  the  fondness  he  felt  for  the  heroes  he  left 

Should  tempt  him  again  to  return." 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1777  the  Chronicle  thus 
saluted  the  public  :  — 

The  Printers  and  publishers  of  the  Independent  Chronicle  and  Uni 
versal  Advertiser,  (to  keep  pace  with  others  of  their  profession  of  more 
ancient  standing)  beg  leave,  through  this  channel,  to  congratulate  their 
customers  on  the  arrival  of  the  New  Year, — being  the  first  that  has 
rolled  over  since  their  publication. 

At  the  same  time  that  they  welcome  in  the  New  Year,  they  cannot 
pass  over,  in  silent  forgetfulness,  the  cruel,  inhuman  treatment,  that 
America  has  experienced,  during  a  series  of  months,  without  mention- 


POWARS    AND    WILLIS.  251 

ing  the  desolating  conflagration  of  Charlestown,  Falmouth,  Norfolk, 
&c.  from  those,  whom  she  once  embraced  as  her  bosom  friends ;  and 
whose  interest  would,  to  this  day,  have  been  considered  as  inseparably 
connected  with  her  own,  had  not  a  sincere  love  to  America,  in  general, 
and  the  great  and  good  law  of  self-preservation,  dictated  a  total  separa 
tion  :  Which  the  Grand  Council  of  these  Confederated  States,  in  their 
Wisdom,  have  seen  fit  for  ever  to  dissolve. 

That  America  may  prove  victorious,  and  all,  who  have  spirit,  resolu 
tion,  fortitude,  and  virtue,  sufficient  to  assert  her  much  injured  (though 
glorious)  cause,  obtain  what  the  whole  collective  wisdom  of  these  States 
say  they  have  an  "unalienable  right"  to,  viz.  "PEACE,  LIBERTY,  and 
SAFETY,"  is  the  ardent  wish  of  the  Public's  much  obliged,  and  most 
devoted,  humble  servants,  THE  PRINTERS,  &c. 

Powars  &  Willis  published  the  Chronicle  till  near  the 
close  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  The  Rev.  William 
Gordon,  one  of  the  ministers  of  Roxbury,  wrote  for  it  a 
great  number  of  communications,  on  the  subject  of  gov 
ernment,  intended  chiefly  to  enlighten  the  people  in  re 
gard  to  the  nature  and  effects  of  the  constitution  of 
Massachusetts,  —  a  draft  of  which  had  been  reported  by 
the  convention  called  for  that  purpose.  He  also  wrote 
other  articles,  in  aid  of  the  Colonies  against  the  Parlia 
ment.* 

After  Powars  left  the  concern,  the  Chronicle  was  pub 
lished  by  Willis  alone,  till  the  first  of  January,  1784, 
when  it  passed  from  his  possession  to  the  hands  of 
Thomas  Adams  and  John  Nourse. 

EDWARD   EVELETH   POWARS,  the  senior   partner   in 

*Dr.  Gordon  was  a  native  of  Hertfordshire,  and,  early  in  life,  was  settled  as 
pastor  of  a  large  independent  church  at  Ipswich,  in  England.  It  is  said  that  hia 
partiality  for  America  caused  him  to  emigrate  to  this  country,  in  1770.  He  was 
settled  over  the  third  parish  in  Roxbury,  in  1772.  He  took  an  active  part  in  public 
measures,  during  the  war,  and  was  chosen  chaplain  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts.  Afler  the  war,  he  returned  to  his  native  country,  and  published 
his  History  of  the  American  Revolution,  —  a  work,  which  had  occupied  his  atten 
tion  for  some  years,  and  for  the  composition  of  which  he  had  the  advantage  of  con 
sulting  the  records  of  Congress,  and  of  reading  the  letters  of  Washington,  Gates, 
Greene,  Lincoln,  and  others.  See  Allen's  Biographical  Dictionary. 


252  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

the  firm  of  Powars  &  Willis,  was,  I  believe,  a  native  of 
Boston  or  Charlestown.  He  had  been  the  printer  of  a 
paper  before  he  joined  Willis  in  the  purchase  of  the 
Chronicle.  After  he  left  that  paper  he  was  connected 
with  several  others,  none  of  which  had  the  good  fortune 
to  gain  extensive  circulation,  or  to  afford  much  profit  to 
the  publisher.  One  of  these,  called  the  American  Her 
ald,  he  published  in  Boston,  for  six  or  seven  years,  pre 
vious  to  1788,  when  he  removed  to  Worcester,  and  con 
tinued  the  publication,  under  the  title  of  the  American 
Herald  and  Worcester  Recorder.  It  was  discontinued 
in  about  two  years.  I  became  acquainted  with  him  in 
1803,  when  he  was  at  work  as  a  compositor  in  the  office 
of  Samuel  Etheridge,  in  Charlestown.  Afterwards  he 
held  the  office  of  Messenger  to  the  Governor  and  Coun 
cil  of  the  Commonwealth.  At  a  later  period,  he  was  a 
traveling  bookseller,  and  died  on  one  of  his  expeditions 
in  the  Western  States. 

NATHANIEL  WILLIS,  mentioned  above  as  the  partner 
of  Powars,  was  a  native  of  Boston,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  a  printer  in  the  celebrated  house  of,  Green  &t 
Russell.  After  disposing  of  his  interest  in  the'  Chroni 
cle,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1793,  he  removed  to  Win 
chester,  Virginia,  and  published  a  paper  there,  for  a  short 
time.  He  then  removed  to  Shepardstown,  where  he 
also  published  a  paper,  and  thence  to  Martinsburg,  in 
which  place  he  published  a  small  paper,  called  the 
Potomac  Guardian.  His  next,  and,  I  believe,  his  last 
removal  was  to  Chilicothe,  in  Ohio,  —  then  the  North 
western  Territory.  There  he  printed  the  Scioto  GazetteX 
which  was  the  official  paper  of  the  territorial  government, 
and  probably  the  only  paper  printed  within  its  limits. 


NATHANIEL    WILLIS.  253 

He  purchased  and  cultivated  a  farm,  near  Chilicothe,  on 
which  he  ended  his  days.  He  was  the  father  of  Nathan 
iel  Willis,  —  well  known  as  the  publisher  of  the  Boston 
Recorder,  —  and  the  grandfather  of  Nathaniel  P.  Willis, 
one  of  the  present  editors  of  the  Home  Journal,  in  New- 
York,  —  whom  merely  to  name  is  sufficient  to  awaken  a 
sentiment  of  esteem  and  admiration  for  one  of  the  most 
agreeable  prose-writers,  that  our  country  has  produced, 
and  a  poet,  whose  numbers  will  live  to  delight  a  future 
age,  and  place  him  in  the  foremost  rank  of  those,  who 
have  invested  wit  with  modesty  and  decorum,  and  added 
grace  and  innocence  to  the  refinements  of  fashion. 

About  the  time  when  the  treaty  of  1783  with  Great- 
Britain  was  a  subject  of  general  interest,  attempts  were 
made  in  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  to  restore  the 
Tories,  who  had  left  the  country,  to  their  original  rights. 
The  writers  in  the  Chronicle  were  zealous  opponents  of 
this  plan.  As  an  illustration  of  the  temper  and  tone  of 
their  writings,  take  the  following,  from  the  Chronicle  of 
May  22,  1783:- 

As  Hannibal  swore  never  to  be  at  peace  with  the  Romans,  so  let 
every  Whig  swear  —  by  the  abhorrence  of  Slavery  —  by  liberty  and  re 
ligion —  by  the  shades  of  those  departed  friends  who  have  fallen  in 
battle  —  by  the  ghosts  of  those  of  our  brethren  who  have  been  destroyed 
on  board  of  prison-ships  and  in  loathsome  dungeons  —  by  the  names  of 
a  Hayne  and  other  virtuous  citizens  whose  lives  have  been  wantonly 
destroyed  —  by  every  thing  that  a  freeman  holds  dear,  —  never  to  be  at 
peace  with  those  fiends  the  Refugees,  whose  thefts,  murders,  and  trea 
sons  have  filled  the  cup  of  wo  ;  but  show  the  world  that  we  prefer  war, 
with  all  its  direful  calamities,  to  giving  those  fell  destroyers  of  the 
human  species  a  residence  among  us.  We  have  crimsoned  the  earth 
with  our  blood  to  purchase  peace,  —  therefore  are  determined  to  enjoy 
harmony,  uninterrupted  with  the  contaminating  breath  of  a  Tory. 

When  Adams  &  Nourse  took  possession  of  the  Chron 
icle,  in  1783,  they  published  a  very  short  address  to  the 
VOL.    I.  22 


254  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

public,  soliciting  a  continuance  "  of  such  speculations, 
as  shall  be  adapted  to  promote  the  liberty  of  our  country, 
and  the  general  welfare  of  mankind."  With  many  oth 
ers,  they  took  a  decided  stand  against  the  Society  of 
Cincinnati.  One  of  their  correspondents  said,  March, 
1784,  —  "The  institution  of  Cincinnati  is  concerted  to 
establish  a  complete  and  perpetual  personal  distinction 
between  the  numerous  military  dignitaries  of  their  cor 
poration  and  the  whole  remaining  body  of  the  people, 
who  will  be  styled  Plebeians  through  the  community." 
In  a  note  on  this  article  the  editors  said,  —  "  If  the  order 
of  Cincinnati  should  appear  to  be  fraught  with  danger  to 
the  exalted  rights  of  human  nature,  tending  rapidly  to 
the  introduction  of  an  American  nobility,  as  has  been 
publicly  affirmed,  and  not  gainsaid,  —  such  a  military 
nobility,  as  plagued  and  domineered  over  Europe  for 
centuries,  —  or  if  it  tends  to  introduce  even  the  mildest 
nobility,  since  nobility  itself  is  reprobated  by  these  con 
federated  republican  states,  is  it  not  the  duty  of  legislat 
ors,  governors,  and  magistrates,  and  their  ELECTORS, 
by  all  judicious  and  proper  means  in  their  power,  to 
prevent  such  an  institution  from  acquiring  any  degree  of 
strength  or  influence  in  this  free  commonwealth  ?  * 

In  the  course  of  this  year,  Adams  &  Nourse  were 
appointed  "  Printers  to  the  General  Court,"  and  the 
Chronicle  became  the  official  paper  of  the  government. 
Some  typographical  improvements  were  made;  and  the 
old  device,  at  the  head,  gave  place  to  a  new  one,  which, 
with  the  explanation  given  of  it,  in  the  technical  lan 
guage  of  the  sublime  science  of  heraldry,  here  follows  :  — 

*  In  1784,  the  town  of  Cambridge,  by  a  formal  vote  in  town-meeting,  instructed 
iheir  representative  in  the  General  Court  to  use  his  endeavors  to  cause  the  Society 
of  Cincinnati  to  be  suppressed. 


ADAMS    AND    NOURSE.  255 


EXPLANATION  of  the  DEVICE  for  the  Arms  of  the  Commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts. 

SAPPHIRE,  an  Indian  dressed  in  his  Shirt  and  Mogginsins,  belted 
proper ;  in  his  right  Hand  a  Bow,  TOPAZ  ;  in  his  left  an  Arrow,  its 
Point  towards  the  Base  of  the  Second;  on  the  dexter  side  of  the 
Indian's  Head,  a  Star,  PEARL,  for  one  of  the  United  States  of  America : 
CREST,  on  a  "Wreath  a  dexter  Arm,  cloathed  and  ruffled  proper,  grasp 
ing  a  broad  Sword,  the  Pummel  and  Hilt  TOPAZ,  with  this  motto, 
Ense petit  placidam  subLibertate  Quietem. 

At  the  same  time,  the  motto,  — "  Truth  its  guide, 
Liberty  its  object,"  —  was  adopted,  and  continued  as 
long  as  the  paper  was  published. 

The  Chronicle  now  assumed  an  important  stand,  both 
as  a  political  and  commercial  journal.  Parties  had  not 
then  taken  the  names,  by  which  they  were  afterwards 
distinctly  known,  nor  had  the  people  in  general  adopted 
the  peculiar  principles,  partialities,  and  prejudices,  which 
afterwards  constituted  the  creeds  of  the  two  great  an 
tagonistic  divisions  of  Republicans  and  Federalists. 
But  it  is  easy  to  perceive,  in  the  columns  of  the  Chron 
icle,  that  its  editors  and  correspondents  had  a  strong  and 
emphatic  affection  for  France,  as  the  ally  and  friend  of 


256  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

America,  and  an  equally  forcible  and  overpowering 
hatred  of  Great-Britain.  It  was  not,  however,  till  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  adopted,  and  the 
Federal  Government  began  its  operations,  that  the  divid 
ing  line  was  distinctly  drawn,  and  every  man's  political 
allegiance  was  known  from  the  plainness  and  freedom 
with  which  he  avowed  his  opinions  concerning  the  con 
duct  of  those  two  foreign  powers,  and  his  character,  as  a 
Federalist  or  Republican,  was  determined  accordingly. 

The  partnership  of  Adams  &  Nourse  continued  till 
January,  1790,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of 
Nourse.  Adams  continued  the  publication  of  the  Chron 
icle,  as  sole  editor  and  proprietor,  till  some  time  in  1793, 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Isaac  Larkin.  From 
this  time  the  Chronicle  was  published  twice  a  week,  on 
Monday  and  Thursday,  and  was  the  second  semi-weekly 
paper  published  in  New-England.  The  partnership  of 
Adams  &  Larkin  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of  Larkin, 
in  December,  1797,  and  Adams  was  again  left  as  the 
only  known  proprietor  and  editor  of  the  paper.  Larkin 
was  born  in  Charlestown,  and  was  educated  to  the  pro 
fession  of  a  printer.  He  was  a  brother  of  Ebenezer 
Larkin,  a  respectable  publisher  and  bookseller  in  Boston. 
His  character  was  that  of  an  amiable  and  intelligent 
gentleman,  a  good  printer,  and  a  faithful  friend. 

In  1798,  the  editor  of  the  Chronicle  and  his  corre 
spondents  opposed  with  great  vehemence  the  "  alien  and 
sedition  laws,"  so  called,  passed,  during  that  year,  by 
Congress,  in  consequence  of  which  the  editor  was  pros 
ecuted,  under  the  provisions  of  the  sedition  act,  and 
arraigned  before  the  Federal  Circuit  Court,  charged 
with  sundry  libelous  and  seditious  publications.  In  an- 


THOMAS    ADAMS.  257 

nouncing  the  fact,  Mr.  Adams  said,  —  "  Every  remark 
on  this  important  business  will  be  deferred,  till  after  the 
trial,  finding  ourselves  too  INDEPENDENT  in  principle  to 
attempt  to  prepossess  the  public  mind  on  this  interesting 
question.  The  citizens  of  the  United  States  may  rest 
assured  that  the  Chronicle,  ever  attached  to  a  republican 
system  of  government,  will  always  support  the  RIGHTS 
OF  THE  PEOPLE,  agreeably  to  the  sacred  Charter  of  the 
Constitution."  The  arraignment  of  the  editor  was  at 
the  session  of  the  Court  in  October,  1798;  the  trial 
was  continued  to  the  next  term,  to  be  held  in  June, 
1799.  The  result  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1799,  certain  resolutions 
of  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  denying  the  constitution 
ality  of  the  alien  and  sedition  laws,  which  had  been 
passed  by  Congress  the  preceding  year,  were  transmitted 
to  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  by  him  laid  be 
fore  the  Legislature  for  its  action.  The  Chronicle  had 
taken  a  determined  stand  against  both  these  laws,  and 
was  bold  and  vehement  in  its  opposition.  The  Legis 
lature  passed  a  "  declaration,"  prepared  by  a  joint  com 
mittee,  affirming  the  constitutionality  of  the  laws,  and, 
of  course,  disapproving  of  the  Virginia  Resolutions. 
This  official  declaration  was  published  in  the  Chronicle 
of  February  18.  In  the  same  paper,  in  the  editorial 
department,  appeared  the  following  article  :  — 

HISTORICAL  FACTS.  A  correspondent  observes,  that,  on  the  last 
Wednesday  in  May,  1798,  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  was  a 
"free,  sovereign,  and  independent  State,  in  all  matters  not  specially  com 
mitted  to  the  Continental  Government ;  and,  in  proof  of  it,  appeals  to 
the  affidavits  of  about  two  hundred  respectable  witnesses,  who  made 
oath  to  the  fact,  as  well  as  to  the  opinion  that  the  Commonwealth 
"  ought  to  be  "  so,  in  order  to  the  admission  of  the  witnesses  to  a  seat 
in  the  Legislature  of  the  Commonwealth. 
22* 


258  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

A  question  being  started  by  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  whether  the 
sovereignty  of  the  individual  states  was  not  invaded  by  certain  acts  of 
Congress,  which  the  state  of  Virginia  deems  unconstitutional ;  a  ma 
jority  of  the  same  witnesses,  quoted  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  dis 
claim  for  themselves,  as  members  of  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts, 
and  deny  to  all  other  States  in  the  Union,  any  right  to  decide  on  the  con 
stitutionality  of  any  acts  of  Congress. 

As  it  is  difficult  for  common  capacities  to  conceive  of  a  sovereignty  so 
situated  that  the  sovereign  shall  have  no  right  to  decide  on  any  invasion  of 
his  constitutional  powers,  it  is  hoped,  for  the  convenience  of  those  tender 
consciences,  who  may  hereafter  be  called  upon  to  swear  allegiance  to 
the  State,  that  some  gentleman,  skilled  in  Federal  logic,  will  show  how 
the  oath  of  allegiance  is  to  be  understood,  that  every  man  may  be  so 
guarded  and  informed,  as  not  to  invite  the  Deity  to  witness  a  falsehood. 

In  the  same  paper  was  the  following,  alluding  to  the 
speech  of  one  of  the  Senators  from  Berkshire  :  — 

Mr.  Bacon's  speech  in  the  Massachusetts  Senate,  on  the  Virginia 
Resolutions,  has  been  read  with  delight  by  all  true  Republicans,  and 
will  always  stand  as  a  monument  of  his  firmness,  patriotism,  and  integ 
rity.  The  following  lines  of  the  Jacobin  Milton  come  near  to  the 
point :  — 

" So  spake  the  Senator,  faithful  found 

Among  the  faithless,  faithful  only  he  ; 

Among  innumerable  false  unmoved, 

Unshaken,  unseduced,  uriterrified ; 

Nor  number  nor  example  with  him  wrought 

To  swerve  from  truth,  or  change  his  constant  mind, 

Though  single." 

These  articles  were  viewed  as  libels  on  the  Legisla 
ture,  and  the  Grand  Jury  for  the  county  of  Suffolk  found 
a  bill  of  indictment  against  Abijah  Adams,*  the  person 
employed  as  clerk  and  book-keeper  in  the  office  of  the 
Chronicle.  The  trial  came  on  before  the  Supreme 
Court,  on  the  first  of  March.  It  was  conducted  by  the 
attorney-general  for  the  Commonwealth,  James  Sullivan, 

*  It  does  not  appear  that  Thomas  Adams,  who  was  the  editor  and  ostensibly  the 
proprietor  of  the  Chronicle,  was  indicted  for  this  libel.  I  have  not  been  able  to 
obtain  any  explanation  of  this  singular  fact. 


THOMAS    ADAMS.  259 

who  zealously  upheld  the  doctrine  of  libels  according 
to  the  common  law  of  England.  The  doctrine  was 
agreed  to  by  the  court.  Benjamin  Whitman  and  George 
Blake,  in  behalf  of  the  defendant,  contended  that  the 
common  law  was  inconsistent  with  the  republican  prin 
ciples  avowed  in  the  constitution  of  Massachusetts,  and 
inapplicable  to  the  nature  and  genius  of  the  government. 
The  evidence  fully  proved  that  Adams  was  the  book 
keeper  for  the  editor,  and  generally  delivered  out  the 
papers  to  the  customers.  The  plea  urged  by  the  prose 
cutor  was,  that,  as  he  delivered  the  papers,  he  was  so 
far  the  principal,  and  guilty  of  publishing.  The  jury 
returned  a  verdict  in  these  express  words,  That  Mr. 
Abijah  Adams  was  guilty  of  publishing  only ;  —  which 
under  the  direction  of  the  Court  was  reduced  to  the 
customary  form.  Mr.  Adams  was  sentenced  to  thirty 
days  imprisonment  in  the  county  gaol,  to  pay  the  costs 
of  prosecution,  and  to  find  sureties,  in  the  sum  of  five 
hundred  dollars,  for  his  good  behavior  for  one  year.  He 
was  immediately  taken  to  the  gaol,  and  passed  the  period 
of  his  imprisonment  "  with  that  resignation  and  fortitude, 
which  becomes  a  man  who  can  appeal  to  his  conscience 
for  the  rectitude  of  his  conduct." 

The  paper  which  announces  the  imprisonment  of  Mr. 
Adams,  says,  —  "  OJ*  The  Patrons  of  the  Chronicle 
may  still  depend  on  the  regular  supply  of  their  papers. 
The  Editor  is  on  the  bed  of  languishment,  and  the  Book 
keeper  in  prison,  yet  the  CAUSE  OF  LIBERTY  will  be  sup 
ported  amid  these  distressing  circumstances."  During 
the  confinement  of  Mr.  Adams,  he  was  visited  by  many 
respectable  citizens,  who  felt  an  interest  for  the  cause, 
in  which  he  suffered ;  and  among  them  was  the  venera- 


260  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

ble  proscribed  patriot,  Samuel  Adams.  He  was  dis 
charged  from  prison  on  the  24th  of  April,  and,  in  the 
Chronicle  of  the  next  day,  returned  "  his  thanks  to  his 
numerous  friends  for  their  attention  and  kindness  to  him 
during  his  confinement ; "  and  assured  them  "  that  the 
Liberties  and  Constitution  of  the  country  would  ever  be 
the  objects  contemplated  in  the  prosecution  of  the  Chron 
icle."  His  release  from  prison  was  announced,  editori 
ally,  as  follows :  — 

Yesterday  Mr.  Abijah  Adams  was  discharged  from  his  imprisonment, 
after  partaking  of  an  adequate  proportion  of  his  " birth-right"  by  a  con 
finement  of  thirty  days  under  the  operation  of  the  Common  Law  of 
England.* 

An  elaborate  revnew  of  the  trial  of  Mr.  Adams,  em 
bracing  arguments  in  opposition  to  the  principles  laid 
down  by  the  Court,  —  written,  it  has  been  said,  by  Mr. 
George  Blake,  —  was  published  in  the  Chronicle,  occu 
pying  several  columns  of  each  successive  publication, 
from  the  eighth  to  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  inclusive. 

Thomas  Adams,  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Chronicle,  had  long  been  laboring  under  severe  indispo 
sition,  and  such  was  the  nature  of  his  physical  disorder, 
that  he  relinquished  all  hope  of  recovery,  and,  on  the 
first  of  May,  1799,  disposed  of  all  his  interest  in  the 
Chroniclej  to  James  White,  a  respectable  and  well  known 
bookseller,  whose  store  was  in  the  same  building  with 
the  Chronicle  office,  and  was  for  many  years  designated, 
—  and  is  still  remembered  by  many,  —  by  the  sign  of 
"  Franklin's  Head."  In  announcing  his  proprietorship, 
Mr.  White  (who  was  a  Federalist)  said,  —  he  would 
"  aim  to  have  the  paper  conducted  with  decency  and 

*  Judge  Dana,  in  his  charge  to  the  jury,  pronounced  the  common  law  of  England 
to  be  the  birth-right  of  every  American. 


EBENEZER    RHOADES.  261 

fairness  "  —  that  "  without  making  pompous  promises 
for  the  variety  and  excellence  of  matter  "  it  should  con 
tain,  he  would  "  leave  it  with  the  public  to  determine 
whether  *  Truth  is  its  guide  and  Liberty  its  object,'  and 
to  give  it  such  support  as  it  may  justly  merit." 

Ebenezer  Rhoades,  a  young  man,  who  served  an 
apprenticeship  with  Samuel  Hall,  and  who  had  been 
employed  as  foreman,  by  Thomas  Adams  during  his 
sickness,  was  engaged  as  the  editor  and  printer  of  the 
Chronicle  for  the  new  proprietor,  Mr.  White.  He 
opened  his  career  in  this  new  responsibility,  with  an  Ad 
dress  to  the  Patrons  of  the  Chronicle,  from  which  the 
following  is  an  extract :  — 

The  great  first  principles  of  civil  liberty  are,  that  all  legislative  power 
proceeds  from  the  people ;  —  that  they  have  a  right  to  inquire  into 
the  official  conduct  of  their  substitutes,  the  rulers ;  —  to  censure  public 
measures  when  found  to  be  wrong,  and  to  use  constitutional  means  to 
remove  those,  who  violate  the  confidence  reposed  in  them.  These  prin 
ciples  require,  that  there  should  be  a  public  and  free  examination  of 
the  doings  of  the  government.  Information  on  these  subjects  cannot 
be  generally  disseminated,  but  through  the  medium  of  newspapers.  It 
is,  therefore,  necessary  to  the  existence  of  civil  liberty,  that  these  should 
be  open  to  writers,  who  discuss  freely  public  measures,  and  even  cen 
sure  them  when  faulty.  Under  this  impression,  the  editor  solicits  his 
republican  friends  to  enrich  the  Chronicle  with  remarks  on  the  adminis 
tration  of  the  government  of  our  country.  It  is  presumed  the  friends 
of  the  present  system  will  not  object  to  this.  It  is  certain  they  ought 
not  to  do  so ;  for  poor  indeed  must  that  cause  be,  which  cannot  bear  an 
examination.  As  long  as  truth  and  decency  are  not  violated  —  and 
these  shall  ever  be  held  most  sacred  —  the  editor  will  not  fear  the  noisy 
railings  of  zealots  in  party,  who  wish  to  deprive  their  antagonists  of  a 
fair  hearing.  On  the  contrary,  as  the  PEOPLE  are  to  exercise  their  sove 
reignty  in  judging  the  conduct  of  their  rulers,  he  will  never  lead  them 
to  condemn  without  a  fair  hearing ;  and  giving  full  opportunity  to  all 
of  defending  the  conduct  of  the  administration  before  the  impartial  and 
just  tribunal  of  public  opinion.  Pieces  written  in  justification  of  the 
government,  therefore,  will  not  be  refused  admittance.  It  is  hoped, 
however,  that  such  pieces  will  contain  reasoning  instead  of  invective ; 


INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

and  will  answer  the  objections  made  against  the  administration,  rather 
than  exclaim  Jacobin  and  Traitor.  In  short,  it  is  the  intent  of  the  editor 
to  belong  to  no  party ;  to  content  himself  *with  doing  the  duties  of  an 
editor,  without  abusing  the  public,  by  garbling  and  misrepresenting  for 
party  purposes.  Men  of  opposite  opinions  may  here  express  them,  and 
the  public  shall  weigh  their  merits.  By  hearing  both  sides,  the  people 
will  be  able  to  get  at  the  truth,  and  form  a  righteous  judgement. 

With  respect  to  intelligence,  the  editor  can  only  pledge  himself  for 
diligence,  and  presenting  facts  impartially  to  the  public,  as  early  as 
possible.  He  will  aim  to  state,  truly,  the  interesting  events  of  Europe, 
whether  they  enliven  or  blast  the  laurels  of  France  or  of  Britain.  The 
American  mind  is  to  be  informed  of  facts,  and  not  to  be  deluded  by  fic 
tion.  If  victory  shall  continue  still  constant  to  the  French,  and  mon 
archies  be  still  changed  to  republics,  the  advocates  for  kingly  power 
ought  not  to  censure  the  newspaper  that  informs  them  of  it ;  and  if  the 
British  lion  is  again  to  become  rampant,  and  disquiet  the  world  with 
his  roarings,  those,  who  have  depended  on  seeing  mankind  enlightened 
and  enfranchised  by  the  French  Revolution,  ought  to  receive  the  story 
of  their  disappointment  with  the  magnanimity  of  patriotism,  and  not 
criminate  the  newspaper  which  publishes  it. 

The  paper,  which  contained  this  address  of  the  new 
editor,  announced  the  death  of  "  Capt.  Thomas  Adams, 
late  editor  of  the  Chronicle,  in  the  forty-second  year  of 
his  age."  During  his  confinement,  and  at  his  death, 
Mr.  Adams  was  under  bonds  to  appear  at  the  United 
States  Court,  then  to  be  held  in  June,  to  answer  for 
certain  publications,  that  were  made  while  he  was  con 
fined  to  his  sick  room.  A  few  days  before  his  death,  a 
physician,  appointed  by  the  Court  and  accompanied  by 
an  officer,  to  examine  into  the  state  of  his  health,  reported 
that  his  condition  would  not  admit  of  his  appearance  in 
Court.  Heaven  canceled  the  obligation  and  removed 
him  from  all  responsibility  to  earthly  tribunals.  "  The 
character  of  Mr.  Adams,  notwithstanding  the  malignity 
of  party  spirit,  could  never  be  impeached.  His  honor 
and  integrity,  benevolence  and  affability,  as  a  citizen  and 
friend,  were  never  called  in  question  by  the  most  impla- 


JAMES    WHITE.  263 

cable  of  his  enemies.  Some,  who  had  experienced  his 
charity,  may  have  demonstrated  their  ingratitude  by  their 
subsequent  conduct,  but,  as  a  Christian  and  a  brother, 
he  forgave  them.  During  his  confinement,  he  ever  ex 
pressed  his  warm  attachment  to  the  liberties  of  his  coun 
try.  The  principles  advocated  in  the  Chronicle  he  often 
dwelt  upon  with  the  most  pleasing  satisfaction,  and 
seemed  to  feel  a  consolation  in  his  dying  moments,  that 
his  Press  had  been  devoted  to  the  propagation  of  those 
sentiments,  which  had  a  tendency  to  promote  the  bless 
ings  of  peace  and  independence."  * 

The  connection  of  Mr.  White  with  the  Chronicle 
continued  only  one  year.  On  relinquishing  the  proprie 
torship,  in  May,  1800,  he  explained  to  the  public  the 
nature  and  cause  of  his  connection  with  the  paper,  in  an 
Address,  which  for  its  candor  and  frankness,  and  the 
pleasant  style,  characteristic  of  the  author's  general  good 
nature  and  gentlemanly  deportment  in  all  his  transac 
tions,  is  worth  transcribing  :  — 

When  the  subscriber  became  the  proprietor  of  the  Independent 
Chronicle,  he  had  two  inducements  to  make  the  purchase.  One,  That 
the  late  proprietor,  who  was  anxious  for  the  future  wellfare  of  his  fam 
ily,  might  ascertain  the  situation,  in  which  he  should  leave  them.  The 
other  —  That  the  paper  should  be  carried  on  so  impartially  as  that  men 
of  opposite  opinions  might  have  an  opportunity  of  expressing  them ; 
and  the  public  be  enabled  to  decide  upon  their  merits.  With  these 
views  the  purchase  was  made.  But  many,  who  approved  of  them, 
doubted  whether  a  paper  could  be  supported  upon  the  plan  suggested. 
However  difficult  or  novel  it  might  appear,  believing  the  principle  just, 
the  subscriber  was  determined  to  make  the  attempt,  and  hazard  the 
issue.  He  engaged  Mr.  Rhoades  as  publisher,  and  enjoined  on  him  a 
strict  adherence  to  the  plan  ;  —  which  was  to  give  intelligence  as  he  re 
ceived  it,  and  not  to  abuse  the  public  by  garbling  and  misrepresenting 
for  party  purposes  ;  to  endeavor,  in  the  strictest  sense,  to  make  "  Truth 

*  Independent  Chronicle,  May  16,  1799. 


264  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

his  Guide,"  and  not  to  violate  it  to  oblige,  nor  withhold  it  through  fear  of 
offending,  any  one :  —  to  support  acts  of  justice,  and  reprobate  every 
unjust  measure,  without  regarding  the  individual  or  nation,  from  whom 
it  might  proceed  —  not  to  become  the  tool  of  domestic  or  foreign,  but 
to  endeavor  to  harmonize  and  make  every  American  a  friend  to  his  own, 
country.  To  this  manner  of  conducting  a  paper  no  objection  could  be 
made ;  for,  if  it  did  not  succeed,  no  loss  could  accrue  to  the  Printer,  as 
the  expenses  were  entirely  at  the  risk  of,  and  paid  by,  the  Proprietor. 
A  paper  like  this,  must,  from  the  nature  of  it,  contain  various  senti 
ments  ;  but  when  any  have  advanced  opinions  contrary  to  those  of  oth 
ers,  it  has  been  open  for  writers  on  both  sides  to  discuss  the  subject 
fairly.  If  any  have  neglected  the  opportunity,  it  is  their  own  fault,  and 
the  Editor  ought  not  to  be  censured :  he  made  the  paper  free  ground  for 
those  who  chose  to  advance  with  small  arms,  or  more  weighty  pieces. 
The  parties  engaged  have  sometimes  been  bomb-proof,  although  at 
tacked  with  solid  arguments.  They  have  often  smoked  their  antag 
onists  — have  frequently  made  random  shots  —  and  sometimes  true  fires. 
Some  of  the  pieces  have  been  raised  rather  too  high,  and  now  and  then, 
either  by  frequent  firing  or  bad  ammunition,  have  become  a  little  foul, 
and  required  sponging  before  they  could  be  brought  into  fair  action. 

One  year  has  now  elapsed,  since  Mr.  Khoades  undertook  to  publish 
the  Chronicle  on  this  impartial  plan.  The  experiment  has  been  fairly 
tried  and  has  so  far  succeeded,  as  to  have  obtained  a  respectable  list  of 
subscribers,  fully  sufficient  to  make  it  an  object  to  continue  it ;  but  the 
profits  not  being  the  principal  object  of  the  Subscriber  in  becoming  the 
Proprietor,  and  his  engagements  in  business  being  such  as  makes  it  not 
only  very  inconvenient,  but  out  of  his  power  to  pay  attention  to  a  paper, 
he  has  for  some  time  determined  to  dispose  of  the  property,  whenever 
he  could  realize  the  first  cost,  and  find  a  purchaser,  who  would  under 
take  to  conduct  the  press  on  the  present  plan.  With  this  intention,  Mr. 
Eben.  Rhoades  and  Mr.  Abijah  Adams  have  made  the  purchase,  and 
become  the  Proprietors.  The  next  paper  will  be  published  by  and  for 
them.  Mr.  Adams  has  been  in  the  office  for  ten  years.  Mr.  Rhoades 
has  been  the  Editor  for  twelve  months.  They  well  know  the  reception 
the  paper  has  met  with  at  different  periods,  and  can  judge  of  the  effects 
both  of  Good  Custom  and  Common  Law ;  and  certainly  will  find  it  for 
their  interest  to  secure  the  one  and  avoid  the  other.  It  is  therefore  pre 
sumed  that  they  will  continue  to  be  impartial ;  to  merit  and  receive  the 
support  of  the  present  customers.  .  .  J-  WHITE. 

The  next   number   of    the   Chronicle  contained   the 
salutatory  address  of  the  new  proprietors,  — written  with 


ABIJAH    ADAMS.  265 

commendable  brevity.  After  declaring  that,  "with  as 
much  correctness  as  they  are  able  to  command  "  in  the 
management  of  the  paper  "  Truth  shall  still  be  its  Guide, 
Liberty  its  Object,"  they  add  the  following  sentiments 
with  marks  of  quotation  :  — "  Every  departure  from 
truth  is  pernicious.  Impartiality  should  be  a  perpetual 
attribute  of  the  press.  Neither  fear  on  the  one  side, 
nor  the  hope  of  reward  on  the  other,  should  intimidate  or 
influence  its  inquiries.  It  should  neither  be  bribed  to 
lavish  unmerited  applause,  nor  menaced  into  silence. 
The  usefulness  of  periodical  publications  depends  upon 
their  steady  adherence  to  rectitude.  The  moment  cor 
rupt  or  foreign  considerations  are  suffered  to  bias  or  stain 
their  pages,  they  become  injurious  to  the  general  interests 
of  society." 

ABIJAH  ADAMS  died  on  the  18th  of  May,  1816,  aged 
sixty -two  years.  He  was  a  native  of  Boston,  and  was  bred 
to  the  trade  of  a  tailor  —  a  business,  which  he  could  not 
have  pursued  many  years,  as  he  was  a  clerk  in  the 
Chronicle  office  some  time  before  the  death  of  his  brother, 
Thomas  Adams.  The  following  obituary  notice,  from 
the  Chronicle,  probably  does  no  more  than  justice  to  his 
character  :  — 

On  his  sepulchre  may  be  inscribed,  Here  lie  the  remains  of  an  honest 
man.  In  the  present  state  of  society  it  is  not  from  "  high  life "  that 
"high  characters  are  drawn."  The  man,  who  discharges  his  duty  as  a 
patriot,  a  parent,  and  a  friend,  is  entitled  to  a  eulogium.  Mr.  Adams,  in 
domestic  life,  was  exemplary ;  in  his  friendship,  undeviating ;  and,  as  a 
member  of  society,  possessed  those  amiable  qualities,  which  must  ever 
endear  him  in  the  memory  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Mr.  Adams,  for  many 
years,  had  been  the  senior  editor  of  the  Chronicle,  and  was  ever  de 
sirous  to  conduct  his  paper  with  that  propriety,  which  the  tongue  of 
calumny  cannot  depreciate,  though  often  aimed  to  detract.  He  was 
not  so  much  concerned  in  the  editorial  department,  as  to  make  him 
responsible  for  every  publication  offered  him ;  he  pursued  his  business 
23 


266  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

with  that  circumspection  as  not  to  excite  party  prejudices,  but  to  give 
publicity  to  principles  calculated  to  elucidate  political  subjects,  as  they 
occasionally  rose  in  our  national  controversies.  Examination  was  the 
object  contemplated,  and  though  he  frequently  suffered  persecution  as 
an  editor,  yet  the  energies  of  his  pursuits  never  failed  him.  He  sus 
tained  his  misfortunes  with  a  dignity  becoming  a  Christian  and  a 
patriot. 

After  the  death  of  Adams,  the  paper  was  carried  on 
by  the  surviving  partner  for  himself  and  the  heirs  of 
Adams,  till  the  summer  of  1819,  when  the  Chronicle 
was  sold  to  DAVIS  C.  BALLARD,  (a  son  of  Mrs.  Adams 
by  a  previous  marriage)  and  EDMUND  WRIGHT,  Jun.  pub 
lishers  and  editors  of  the  Boston  Patriot.  It  was  united 
with  that  paper,  and  thenceforth  ceased  to  exist  as  a 
separate  publication. 

EBENEZER  RHOADES  was  a  native  of  Boston,  the  son 
of  Jacob  Rhoades,  long  known  and  celebrated  as  a  ship 
builder.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  as  a  printer  with 
Samuel  Hall.  Though  connected  with  a  paper,  which 
often  poured  out  gall  and  wormwood  on  its  political  op 
ponents,  his  deportment  in  private  life  was  remarkable 
for  its  suavity  and  gentleness  ;  and,  in  his  social  inter 
course,  he  knew  no  difference  between  a  Republican  and 
a  Federalist.  He  died  in  August,  1819,  about  a  year 
after  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  Chronicle.  The  follow 
ing  lines,  which  appeared  in  the  Chronicle  and  Patriot, 
present  a  well-deserved  tribute  to  his  memory  :  — 

If  for  the  hero  tears  are  shed, 

And  laurels  spring  above  his  head, 

Who  sought,  through  blood,  a  deathless  name, 

And  sacrificed  his  life  to  Fame  — 

For  thee  shall  fairer  flowerets  bloom, 

And  shed  their  incense  on  thy  tomb, 

FRIENDSHIP  shall  cull  the  unfading  wreath, 

For  him  who  sleeps  in  peace  beneath  — 


EBENEZER    RHOADES.  267 

While  weeping  LOVE,  with  mournful  grace, 
Shall  there  the  hallowed  token  place, 
And  o'er  the  humble  mound  shall  bend, 
To  mourn  the  husband,  parent,  friend. 

Ere  yet  had  gently  closed  thine  eyes, 
Ere  yet  thy  spirit  sought  the  skies, 
Full  many  a  heart,  with  feeling  fraught, 
On  thee  had  turned  the  anxious  thought, 
And,  as  was  breathed  the  silent  prayer, 
It  found  in  Heaven  a  record  there. 

Now  peals  the  deep-toned  funeral  knell  I  — 

'Tis  done !  —  Lamented  shade,  FAREWELL  ! 

That  soul  which  choeredus  while  on  earth, 

Springs  to  the  region  of  its  birth  — 

Its  path  of  duty,  faithful  trod, 

Shines  in  the  PARADISE  or  GOD.  LOTHAIR. 

For  a  period  of  near  thirty  years,  the  Chronicle  was 
the  principal  organ,  in  New-England,  of  a  large  and 
powerful  political  party.  Of  this  party,  the  great  orig 
inal,  head,  and  leader  in  the  Union,  was  Thomas  Jeffer 
son.  In  the  foremost  rank  in  the  party  in  Massachu 
setts,  stood  that  unwavering  and  consistent  patriot,  Sam 
uel  Adams.  After  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war, 
many  of  those,  who  had  been  the  correspondents  of  the 
Chronicle,  discontinued  their  contributions,  and  for  three 
or  four  years  the  paper  was  almost  barren  of  original 
discussion  upon  political  affairs.  When,  from  experience, 
the  people  discovered  the  fact  that  the  Articles  of  Con 
federation  of  the  United  Colonies  but  imperfectly  an 
swered  the  purposes  of  a  permanent  government  for  the 
Union,  and  the  idea  of  forming  a  Constitution  began  to 
assume  an  interesting  aspect,  one  of  the  most  popular 
and  influential  writers,  which,  after  Otis,  Adams,  and 
Quincy,  —  had  undertaken  to  direct  the  public  mind, 
chose  the  Chronicle  as  the  vehicle  of  his  political  com- 


268  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

munications.  Of  this  writer,  who  filled  so  large  a  space 
in  the  public  vision,  and  who  probably  wrote  more  for 
the  newspapers  than  any  other  man,  not  an  editor  or 
proprietor  of  a  paper,  it  seems  to  be  proper  to  give 
something  more  than  a  mere  passing  mention  of  his 
name. 

BENJAMIN  AUSTIN,  Jun.  was  born  in  Boston  in  the 
year  1752.  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  Benjamin 
Austin,  and  was  connected,  on  the  mother's  side,  with 
the  Waldo  family,  —  formerly  among  the  most  influential 
and  wealthy  merchants  of  the  province. 

Benjamin,  the  father,  was  one  of  the  firm  of  Box  & 
Austin,  doing  business  largely  as  merchants,  especially 
in  the  importation  of  cordage,  and  other  articles  for  pur 
poses  of  navigation,  most  of  which  were  then  procured 
from  abroad.  He  had  enjoyed  good  opportunities  for 
education,  had  visited  England  in  his  younger  days  with 
uncommon  advantages,  had  been  there  introduced  to  the 
early  friends  of  America,  and  had  brought  home  and  re 
tained  those  principles  of  freedom  and  civil  liberty, 
which  form  so  conspicuous  a  feature  in  the  writings  of 
his  son.  He  took  an  active  part  in  public  affairs ;  — 
was  repeatedly  a  member  of  the  executive  council  of 
the  province,  until  negatived  by  the  Governor; — was 
one  of  the  selectmen  of  the  town  of  Boston,  at  the 
commencement  of  THE  SIEGE,  —  and  suffered  severely 
in  his  property,  during  the  military  occupation  of  the 
town.  He  died  on  the  14th  of  March,  1806,  in  the 
ninetieth  year  of  his  age.  Some  there  are,  who  still 
remember  him  as  one  of  the  Patriarchs  of  the  ante- 
revolutionary  age,  all  of  whom  have  disappeared  under 
the  inexorable  decrees  of  Time.  His  upright  and  ven- 


BENJAMIN  AUSTIN,    JUN.  269 

erable  form,  the  large  white  wig,  scarlet  roquelot,  and 
gold-headed  cane,  were  the  personification  of  the  man 
ners  and  dress  of  a  period  in  our  history  as  a  people, 
which  may  be  studied  with  profit  and  satisfaction. 

Benjamin,  the  son,  had  no  other  education  than  such 
as  was  to  be  acquired  in  the  public  and  private  institu 
tions  of  the  town,  which,  even  then,  were  not  without 
distinction.  After  the  preliminary  studies,  which  these 
schools  enabled  him  to  procure,  he  was  placed  in  the 
mercantile  establishment  of  his  uncles,  the  Waldos,  and 
remained  with  them  during  the  usual  term  of  appren 
ticeship.  In  their  service  he  was  also  occupied  some  time 
afterwards,  and  in  the  mean  time,  he  made  one  or  more 
voyages  to  Europe  and  the  West-Indies.  It  was  during 
his  connection  with  the  Waldos,  that  he  made  his  first 
attempt  as  a  political  writer.  The  act  of  Parliament,  of 
1767,  imposing  taxes  on  the  Colonies,  struck  directly 
upon  the  business,  in  which  those  gentlemen  were  en 
gaged.  In  the  year  following,  the  act  was  carried  into 
operation  in  the  case  of  a  vessel  belonging  to  Mr. 
Hancock,  on  which  occasion  the  public  mind  was  strongly 
excited,  and  the  persons  of  the  officers  of  the  crown 
were  assaulted,  and  their  property  destroyed.  Soon 
afterwards,  two  regiments  of  British  soldiers  arrived  and 
were  encamped  in  the  town. 

During  the  excitement  of  this  period,  an  article  ap 
peared  in  one  of  the  newspapers,  which  attracted  the 
attention  of  Samuel  Adams,  and  his  associates,  who  held 
frequent  meetings  in  a  small  wooden  building  in  Milk- 
street,  then  occupied  by  Samuel  Shed.  Mr.  Shed  kept 
a  respectable  grocery  store  in  the  front  and  lived  with  his 
family  in  the  rear.  His  inner  parlor  was  well  known  as 
23* 


270  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

the  place  where  these  leaders  of  the  opposition  to  Brit 
ish  tyranny  congregated.  There  it  was,  that  the  first 
idea  of  Independence  suggested  itself  to  these  men. 
There  it  was,  that  the  freedom  of  the  country  from  the 
British  yoke  was  conceived  by  the  little  band  of  noble 
spirits,  that  boldly  pushed  forward  to  accomplish  it. 

Mr.  Adams  and  his  colleagues  were  astonished  at  the 
energy  and  boldness  of  this  article,  and  wondered  the 
more  that  it  had  been  written  and  published  without 
their  previous  assent.  Who  was  this  new  and  unknown 
ally  ?  They  sent  for  the  printer.  He  was  unable  to  in 
form  them.  He  had  received  it  anonymously,  and  could 
give  no  indication  of  the  author.  It  was  followed  by 
others  of  equal  ability.  But  the  secret,  though  care 
fully  kept  from  the  public,  and  especially  from  the  cus 
tom-house  commissioners,  was  not  long  undiscovered  by 
this  conclave  of  Patriots.  They  soon  ascertained  that 
the  writer  was  Benjamin  Austin,  Jun.  and  under  their 
direction,  the  pen  of  this  young  man  was  repeatedly 
employed  to  aid  their  plans.* 

The  Revolution  broke  up  the  business  of  the  Waldos. 
I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  any  precise  information 
of  Mr.  Austin's  employment  during  the  period,  which 
followed  their  embarrassments,  but  am  inclined  to  believe 
that  he  was  engaged  with  them  in  the  arrangement  and 
settlement  of  their  widely-extended  affairs.  In  1784, 
he  was  in  England,  making  preparations  for  a  mercantile 
partnership  with  his  only  brother,  then  just  formed, 

*  This  anecdote  was  related  by  Mr.  Austin  himself  to  the  gentleman,  to  whom 
I  am  indebted  for  it.  I  am  not  able  to  state  in  what  paper  these  articles  ap 
peared,— though  it  was  doubtless  Edes  &  Gill's  Boston  Gazette,  as  the  other  pub 
lishers  were  extremely  cautious  of  inserting  articles  that  might  subject  them  to 
the  resentment  of  the  officers  of  government. 


BENJAMIN    AUSTIN,    JUN.  271 

under  the  firm  of  Jonathan  L.  &  Benjamin  Austin,  and 
which  was  continued  through  the  greater  part  of  his  life. 
In  addition  to  their  commercial  transactions,  this  firm  was 
engaged  for  some  years  in  the  manufacture  of  cordage, 
having  extensive  works  for  this  pupose,  at  the  foot  of 
Beacon  Hill. 

It  was  soon  after  this,  that  Mr.  Austin  became  a  steady 
correspondent  of  the  Chronicle.  The  financial  affairs 
of  the  country,  the  embarrassments  of  trade,  the  excess 
ive  importations  of  British  goods  by  British  agents,  and 
many  other  causes  of  public  excitement,  afforded  him 
subjects  for  comment.  While  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  was  a  subject  of  interesting  discussion,  his 
pen  was  not  inactive ;  and  when  that  instrument  was 
submitted  to  the  people  for  their  decision,  he  reviewed 
some  of  its  features,  with  expressions  of  distrust  that 
they  would  prove  too  aristocratical  in  their  results,  and 
lead  to  the  creation  of  privileged  orders,  that  might  be 
destructive  of  the  liberties  of  the  people. 

Mr.  Austin  was  several  times  a  member  of  the  Legis 
lature,  both  as  a  representative  of  the  town  of  Boston, 
and  as  a  Senator  from  the  county  of  Suffolk.  In  1801, 
he  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  then  President  of  the 
United  States,  to  the  office  of  Commissioner  of  Loans,  — 
an  office,  which  he  held  many  years,  and  the  duties  of 
which  he  discharged  with  distinguished  talent  and  fidel 
ity.  He  was  twice  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Selectmen  of  Boston.  It  was  soon  after  his  second 
election  to  that  office,  that  he  died,  on  the  4th  of  May, 
1820,  in  the  69th  year  of  his  age. 

The  personal  and  private  character  of  Mr.  Austin 
was  much  misunderstood,  —  and,  perhaps,  often  mis- 


272  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

represented,  —  in  consequence  of  the  violent  political 
passions,  which  agitated  the  public  mind,  during  many 
years  of  his  life.  He  was  an  ardent  advocate  of  the 
political  principles  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  and  a  conscien 
tious  defender  of  popular  rights.  This  attachment  to 
Jefferson  brought  him  in  conflict  with  the  leading  Feder 
alists  of  his  day,  and  rendered  him  an  object  of  vitupera 
tion  and  wrath.  But,  whatever  may  have  been  said  of 
him,  by  those  who  were  opposed  to  him  in  politics,  and 
however  severely  he  may  have  handled  those,  whom  he 
thought  pursuing  a  course  inconsistent  with  the  honor  and 
prosperity  of  the  country,  he  was  exemplary  in  all  the 
relations  of  social  life,  —  a  good  neighbor,  a  kind  friend, 
a  pleasant  and  agreeable  companion.  He  was  a  man  of 
considerable  wit  and  humor.  Sometimes  he  ridiculed 
his  political  opponents  with  great  effect.  His  conversa 
tion  was  remarkable  for  its  good-natured  tone,  and 
though  his  remarks  were  occasion  ally  spiced  with  a  little 
sarcasm,  they  were  not  tinctured  with  offensive  bitter 
ness.  He  was  unmercifully  lampooned  in  the  federal 
newspapers,  and  his  personal  appearance  was  carica 
tured  in  a  work  called  a  "  Review  of  the  Jacobiniad." 
But  I  believe  he  never  sought  legal  redress  for  any  of  the 
multifarious  libels,  that  he  endured  from  political  oppo 
nents. 

The  Chronicle  was  indebted,  mainly,  to  Mr.  Austin 
for  its  influence  and  success.  His  contributions  were 
entirely  gratuitous.  He  lived  at  the  corner  of  Hancock 
and  Cambridge-streets,  and  transacted  business  in  State- 
street  or  on  Long  Wharf.  It  was  his  ordinary  custom, 
while  on  his  way  from  his  residence  to  his  place  of  busi 
ness,  to  stop  at  the  Chronicle  office,  —  to  have  a  chat 


BENJAMIN    AUSTIN,    JUN.  273 

with  the  editors,  and  to  write  a  paragraph, — perhaps 
an  essay,  —  for  the  paper.  The  office  was  also  fre 
quented  by  several  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  party,  to 
which  he  belonged.  Frequently,  while  they  were  in 
earnest  conversation,  Mr.  Austin  would  write  paragraph 
after  paragraph,  uninterrupted  by  the  conversation  and 
often  joining  in  it.  He  often  wrote  articles  of  consider 
able  length,  in  such  circumstances,  on  the  back  of  a  hand 
bill  or  on  any  scrap  of  paper  that  first  fell  in  his  way. 
For  twenty  years,  at  least,  hardly  a  number  of  the 
Chronicle  was  issued,  that  did  not  contain  something 
from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Austin.  His  style  was  vigorous 
and  clear,  and  though  he  wrote  with  great  rapidity,  and 
seldom  revised  what  he  had  written,  his  sentences  are  in 
general,  symmetrically  constructed,  and  seldom  (though 
still  too  often)  disfigured  by  the  interpolation  of  foreign 
words  and  phrases  ;  —  a  species  of  affectation,  which  fre 
quently  disgraces  the  composition  of  many,  who  make 
high  pretensions  to  scholarship.  I  believe  he  never  at 
tempted  to  conceal  the  origin  of  any  thing,  which  he 
wrote,  though  innumerable  paragraphs  were  published 
without  a  signature.  But  his  longer  and  more  important 
contributions  are  signed  "  Honestus  "  and  "  Old  South." 
So  numerous  were  his  writings  under  the  first  of  these 
signatures,  and  so  well  was  he  known  as  the  writer,  that 
he  was  as  frequently  spoken  of  by  the  newspaper  epi 
thet  as  by  his  real  name.  It  passed  into  a  by-word 
among  his  political  opponents,  on  the  Exchange,  and  in 
the  public  streets.  The  essays  of  Honestus  were  begun 
in  March,  1786.  The  first  number  was  entitled  "  Some 
Observations  on  the  Practice  of  the  Law,  offered  for  the 
serious  consideration  of  the  Legislature  ; "  and  this  sub- 


274  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

ject  was  pursued  through  a  long  series  of  communica 
tions,  which  very  naturally  produced  essays  of  an  op 
posite  character,  some  of  which  were  published  in  the 
Chronicle,  but  they  were  chiefly  in  the  Centinel.  The 
following  lines  stand  as  a  motto  to  the  first  essay  of 
Honestus :  — 

When  will  Benevolence  the  Lawyer  warm  ? 

Or  when  plain  Honesty  the  Courtier  charm  ? 

How  flames  my  blood,  indignant  at  the  thought 

That  Laws  are  bartered ;  human  Passions  bought ! 

That  men  no  more  the  soft  sensations  feel, 

And  gold  —  cursed  gold,  —  the  bosom  turns  to  steel. 

In  1798,  Mr.  Austin  wrote  several  articles  under  this 
same  signature,  in  defence  of  the  policy  of  President 
Adams,  who,  it  will  be  remembered,  entertained  views 
somewhat  different  from  those  of  Alexander  Hamilton 
and  other  Federalists,  in  relation  to  a  war  with  France. 
For  this  he  was  assailed  by  writers  in  the  federal  papers, 
but  by  none  other  with  quite  so  much  vulgarity  as  one 
in  the  Mercury,  who  began  his  attack  in  this  fashion :  — 

"  HONESTUS  "  —  A  hungry,  lean-faced  fellow, 

A  mere  anatomy,  a  rope-maker, 

An  envious,  hollow-eyed,  sharp-looking  wretch ; 

This  living  dead  man,  this  incessant  scribe, 

Forsooth,  took  on  him  as  a  chronicler, 

And,  with  no  face,  out-facing  federal  foes, 

Cries  out,  They  are  possessed. 

Who  would  have  thought  it?  Honestus  is  again  in  print.  This 
abominable  booby  has  not  yet  learnt  that  he  is  universally  despised,  and 
his  doings  and  looks  are  alike  sickening 

The  rest  need  not  be  quoted.  A  portion  of  the  essays 
signed  "Old  South"  were  republished  in  1803,  in  an 
octavo  volume  of  more  than  three  hundred  pages.  In 
an  introductory  number,  he  refers  to  the  town-meetings, 


BENJAMIN    AUSTIN,    JUN.  275 

which  had  been  held  in  the  Old  South  Meeting-house, 
when  the  merits  of  the  British  treaty  of  1794  were  the 
subject  of  discussion,  and  adds,  —  "  To  commemorate  this 
important  era,  the  signature  of  Old  South  is  now  taken." 
The  contents  of  this  volume,  —  if  now  read,  —  will 
excite  sentiments  very  different  from  those,  with  which 
their  first  publication  was  received.  Readers  of  this  and 
future  generations,  who  have  taken,  or  may  take,  the 
character  of  Mr.  Austin,  from  traditionary  report,  or 
from  the  effusions  of  newspaper  writers  of  the  period, 
in  which  he  lived  and  wrote,  will  probably  be  surprised 
to  find  nothing  that  is  inconsistent  with  public  order  or 
private  morality  —  no  single  line  or  sentiment,  in  viola 
tion  of  the  duties  of  a  Christian  or  an  honest  man.  In 
his  Prefatory  Address,  he  remarks  :  — 

Harmony,  peace  and  moderation  depend  on  the  body  of  republican 
citizens,  acting  upon  one  consolidated  principle  in  support  of  the  consti 
tution  and  laws  of  the  government.  An  union  of  republicans  and 
monarchists  can  never  be  expected ;  an  union  with  those  who  advocate 
unnecessary  taxes  and  those  who  are  opposed  to  them,  is  chimerical ; 
an  union  of  those,  who  use  scurrility  and  defamation,  with  those,  who 
substantiate  their  measures  by  reason  and  sound  policy,  is  reversing 
every  logical  decision ;  an  union  with  friends  of  order  and  the  revilers 
of  an  administration,  which  inculcates  peace  abroad  and  harmony  at 
home,  is  as  impossible  as  a  cordiality  between  God  and  mammon.  The 
union  sought  after  depends  on  the  candid  deliberation  of  the  well- 
disposed  citizens,  whose  happiness  is  involved  in  the  permanency  of  a 
wise  and  economical  administration.  An  union  of  this  kind  may  be 
effected ;  as  we  have  reason  to  think  that  many  honest  men  have  been 
in  opposition,  from  the  arts  and  intrigues  of  such  classes  as  are  above- 
described  ;  and  we  charitably  hope,  a  pre-eminent  character,*  now  in 
retirement,  is  convinced  that  he  was  deceived  by  them,  who  pretended 
the  highest  friendship  towards  him.  We  ever  wish  to  revere  his  char 
acter  for  the  part  he  took  during  our  revolution ;  and  we  pray  God  that  his 
last  days  may  be  employed  in  exposing  those  culprits,  who  pretend  to 
venerate  him,  while  they  eulogize  the  man,t  who  attempted  to  blast  his 
name  with  infamy  and  reproach. 

*  John  Adams.  t  Alexander  Hamilton. 


276  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

Taking  this  ground,  the  author  has  considered  the  various  subjects 
contemplated.  He  has  noticed  every  individual  in  his  political  charac 
ter.  As  private  men,  he  estimates  them  in  proportion  to  their  social  vir 
tues,  and  does  not  wish  to  invalidate  whatever  may  be  essential  to  their 
moral  rectitude.  He  acknowledges  to  have  written  with  freedom ;  but 
the  controversy  of  the  present  day,  as  connected  with  the  future  happi 
ness  of  our  common  country,  demands  an  unequivocal  investigation  of 
men  and  measures.  He  is  willing  to  stand  the  test  of  principles  ;  and, 
for  this  purpose  only,  has  he  consented  to  give  his  name  as  a  voucher 
for  the  sincerity  of  his  observations. 

The  cause  of  real,  undefiled  religion,  as  inculcated  in  the  Gospel,  he  is 
ever  desirous  to  espouse  ;  and  if  any  remarks  on  its  professors  appear 
pungent,  it  is  for  the  sole  purpose  of  discriminating  between  piety  and 
hypocrisy.  Neither  would  he  uncharitably  condemn  all  such  men  as 
differ  from  him,  as  hypocrites  or  apostates ;  yet  the  severity  and  in 
decency,  with  which  some  have  replied  to  his  remarks,  justify  him  in 
administering  the  tartar  of  retaliation. 

Those,  who  wish  to  be  more  particularly  informed  of 
the  character  of  Mr.  Austin's  intellectual  capacities,  the 
power  of  his  political  prejudices  and  predilections,  and 
the  motives,  by  which  he  was  animated  as  a  writer,  will 
do  well  to  consult  his  published  writings,  —  but  an  in 
considerable  part  of  which  are  contained  in  the  volume 
here  referred  to. 

In  1806,  an  incident  of  a  most  extraordinary  and  agi 
tating  nature  occurred,  in  the  fatal  consequences  of 
which  Mr.  Austin  and  his  family  were  deeply  and  pain 
fully  involved.  The  fever  of  political  animosity  was  at 
its  height.  Each  political  party  projected  a  celebration 
of  the  4th  of  July.  The  Federalists  held  their  festival 
in  Fanueil  Hall  ;  the  Republicans  had  theirs  on  Copp's 
Hill.  The  entertainment  was  provided  for  the  Republi 
cans,  by  a  man  who  kept  a  tavern  in  Charlestown  ;  that 
for  the  Federalists  by  the  man  who  kept  the  public 
house,  known  as  Concert  Hall.  A  few  days  after  the 
celebration,  rumors  were  circulated  about  the  town  that 
the  Republicans  had  a  difficulty  in  settling  their  account 


BENJAMIN    AUSTIN,    JUN.  277 

with  the  contractor  for  their  dinner,  and  this  rumor  was 
accompanied  with  reproachful  comments  in  the  federal 
papers.  As  an  offset,  it  was  stated  in  the  Chronicle 
that  the  tavern-keeper,  who  supplied  the  entertainment 
for  their  party,  was  paid,  and  that  "  a  receipt  in  full 
could  be  produced  for  every  minutiae  furnished  on  that 
occasion,"  and  added,  "Let  the  federal  gentry  produce 
a  receipt  in  full  for  their  entertainment."  This  was  fol 
lowed  up  by  paragraphs  and  communications,  by  both 
parties,  of  a  character  highly  irritating,  and  tending  to 
exasperate  passions,  that  were  easily  inflamed.  The 
persons  more  immediately  concerned  in  carrying  on  this 
unfortunate  controversy  were  Mr.  Austin,  who  was 
chairman  of  the  republican  committee,  and  Thomas 
O.  Selfridge,  who  was  one  of  the  most  active  members 
of  the  federal  party.  A  controversy  had  arisen  between 
the  federal  committee  and  some  of  the  persons,  who 
contracted  for  the  entertainment.  Mr.  Selfridge  had 
been  employed,  professionally,  to  adjust  the  difference, 
and  this  gave  to  Mr.  Austin  occasion  for  some  offensive 
remarks.  On  the  fourth  of  August,  the  following  notice 
appeared  conspicuously  in  the  Boston  Gazette  :  — 
AUSTIN  POSTED. 

BENJAMIN  AUSTIN,  Loan-Officer,  having  acknowledged  that  he  has 
circulated  an  infamous  falsehood  concerning  my  professional  conduct, 
in  a  certain  case,  and  having  refused  to  give  the  satisfaction  due  to  a 
gentleman  in  similar  cases :  —  I  hereby  publish  said  Austin  as  a  COW 
ARD,  a  LIAR,  and  a  SCOUNDREL ;  and  if  the  said  Austin  has  the 
effrontery  to  deny  any  part  of  the  charge,  he  shall  be  silenced  by  the 
most  irrefragable  proof.  THOMAS  O.  SELFRIDGE. 

P.  S.  The  various  editors  in  the  United  States  are  requested  to  insert 
the  above  notice  in  their  journals ;  and  their  bills  shall  be  paid  to  their 
respective  agents  in  this  town. 

The  Chronicle  and  Gazette  being  issued  on  the  same 
24 


278  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

morning,  a  considerable  number  of  copies  of  the  Chron 
icle  had  passed  through  the  press,  before  the  Gazette 
was  seen  by  Mr.  Austin.  A  part  of  the  edition  of  the 
Chronicle  contained  the  following  :  — 

Considering  it  derogatory  to  enter  into  a  newspaper  controversy  with 
one  T.  0.  Selfridge,  in  reply  to  his  insolent  and  FALSE  publication  in 
the  Gazette  of  this  day ;  if  any  gentleman  is  desirous  to  know  the  facts 
on  which  his  impertinence  is  founded,  any  information  will  be  given  by 
me  on  the  subject.  BENJAMIN  AUSTIN. 

Boston,  Aug.  4. 

D^~  Those  who  publish  Selfridge's  statement  are  requested  to  insert 
the  above,  and  they  shall  be  paid  on  presenting  their  bills. 

About  one  o'clock  of  the  day,  on  which  these  publi 
cations  appeared,  Charles,  a  son  of  Mr.  Austin,  and  Mr. 
Selfridge  met  on  the  side-walk,  on  the  south  side  of 
State-street,  not  far  from  the  corner  of  Congress-street. 
No  person  was  near  enough  to  hear  any  words  that 
might  have  passed  between  them.  In  less  than  a  min 
ute  after  they  met,  Selfridge  was  seen  to  draw  a  pistol 
from  his  pocket,  and  discharge  it  at  Austin.  Austin 
instantly  struck  Selfridge,  —  or  at  him,  —  with  a  small 
stick  he  had  in  his  hand,  and  fell  from  the  side-path  on 
to  the  pavement,  and,  without  speaking,  expired,  —  the 
blood  gushing  from  his  mouth.  The  ball  had  entered 
his  breast,  just  below  the  left  pap,  and  passed  through  the 
body.  This  sad  and  agonizing  event,  the  judicial  pro 
ceedings,  which  followed,  and  the  acquittal  of  the  man, 
whom  the  jury  of  inquest  charged  with  murder,  had  a  deep 
and  painful  influence  on  the  after-life  of  Mr.  Austin.  The 
expressions  of  sympathy  were  many  and  sincere,  even 
from  political  adversaries.  Whatever  provocation  might 
have  been  given  by  the  bitterness  of  political  contro 
versy,  it  is  certain  that  none,  but  the  most  implacably 


BENJAMIN    AUSTIN,    JUN.  279 

vindictive,  could  fail  to  be  softened  by  a  knowledge  of 
the  agony  of  this  tremendous  infliction,  and  by  the  suf 
fering  it  carried  into  the  midst  of  a  family,  which  his 
domestic  habits  and  attachments  had  made  the  centre  of 
all  his  affections. 

Charles  Austin  was  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Senior  class  of  Harvard  Col 
lege.  He  acquired  the  rudiments  of  a  collegiate  educa 
tion  at  Phillips  Academy,  in  Andover,  and  had  frequently 
received  from  the  instructers  in  that  institution,  as  well 
as  those  at  Harvard,  testimonials  of  approbation.  The 
Faculty  of  the  College  had  assigned  to  him  one  of  the 
highest  parts  in  the  exercises  of  the  Commencement, 
that  was  then  soon  to  follow.  His  friends  looked  for 
ward  to  that  day,  with  pleasing  anticipations  of  a  per 
formance,  that  would  justify  the  estimate  they  had  formed 
of  his  talents  and  principles.  He  died  by  the  hand  of 
violence,  in  the  midst  of  his  hopes.  His  funeral  was 
attended  by  a  long  procession  of  citizens  of  Boston  and 
the  neighboring  towns.*  The  pall  was  supported,  and 
the  corpse  preceded,  by  the  Senior  class  of  Harvard 
College,  and  followed,  immediately  after  the  relatives, 
by  the  President,  Professors,  and  Tutors  of  that  institu 
tion. 

For  many  weeks  succeeding  this  tragedy,  the  Chroni 
cle  poured  out  its  anathemas  on  the  Federalists,  whom  it 
charged  with  art,  intrigue,  and  deception,  and  a  desire 
to  stifle  all  investigation  of  their  measures,  even  by  the 
use  of  the  pistol.  The  "  Reflections  "  of  the  editors, 
and  the  communications  of  correspondents,  were  not 
adapted  to  allay  excitement.  The  federal  papers  of 

*  See  Independent  Chronicle,  August  7  and  11, 1806. 


280  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

Boston  maintained  a  general  silence  in  relation  to  the 
subject ;  but  numerous  letters,  written  from  Boston,  were 
published  in  other  places,  and  tended  to  provoke  a  con 
tinuance  of  the  animadversions  of  the  Chronicle.  The 
charge  of  Chief  Justice  Parsons  to  the  Grand  Jury,  at  the 
commencement  of  the  term  of  the  Court  when  Selfridge 
was  to  be  tried,  occasioned  elaborate  comments  in  the 
Chronicle,  many  of  which  bore  evident  marks  of  legal 
knowledge  in  the  writer,  and  practical  investigation  of  the 
laws  concerning  murder,  manslaughter,  and  homicide. 
The  reader  who  may  wish  to  examine  the  articles  relating 
to  these  exciting  transactions,  may  gratify  his  curiosity  by 
consulting  the  columns  of  the  Chronicle,  for  several 
months  succeeding  the  beginning  of  August,  1806. 

During  some  of  the  later  years  of  his  life,  —  after 
the  asperities  of  political  hostility  had,  in  some  measure, 
become  softened,  and  the  federal  party  had  dissolved  its 
organization,  — Mr.  Austin  continued  to  indulge  his  dis 
position  to  write  for  newspapers,  and  wrote  several  col 
umns  of  criticism  on  the  theatre  —  exposing  what  he 
thought  the  immoralities,  vulgarities,  and  absurdities  of 
the  stage.  Though  amusing  enough,  and  not  always 
unworthy  of  the  consideration  of  the  reflecting  philoso 
pher  and  moralist,  these  essays  added  nothing  to  his  rep 
utation  as  a  writer.  Literary  reputation,  indeed,  he 
never  coveted.  The  field  of  politics  was  that,  in  which 
it  seemed  he  was  created  to  labor,  and  in  that  field  he 
had  ample  employment. 

There  were  other  writers  of  considerable  notoriety, 
who  contributed  political  communications,  —  among 
whom  were  Perez  Morton,  afterwards  the  attorney- 
general  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  Dr.  Charles  Jarvis. 


INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE.  281 

The  last-named  gentleman  was  often  a  representative 
from  Boston  in  the  General  Court,  before  the  federal 
party  gained  the  entire  ascendency.  He  was  celebrated 
for  his  oratorical  powers,  which  were  really  of  a  high 
order.  I  am  not  able  to  identify  the  writings  of  either 
of  these  gentlemen,  nor  those  of  numerous  others,  who 
frequented  the  office  of  the  Chronicle,  and  aided  the 
editor  in  his  labors. 

From  an  obituary  notice  in  the  Chronicle  of  Septem 
ber  24,  1798,  it  appears  that  Thomas  Greenleaf  had  at 
some  time  been  employed  as  editor  or  assistant  editor  of 
the  paper.  It  is  there  said,  —  "  He  was  a  steady,  uni 
form,  zealous  supporter  of  the  Rights  of  Humanity  ;  a 
warm  friend  to  civil  and  religious  liberty,  unawed  by 
persecution  or  prosecution,  both  of  which  it  has,  not  un- 
frequently,  been  his  lot  to  experience.  He  loved  his 
country  ;  and  if,  at  any  time,  as  Editor  of  this  paper,  he 
dipped  his  pen  in  gall,  and  exercised  it  with  unusual 
severity,  it  was  occasioned  by  that  strong  abhorrence  he 
felt  against  political  apostacy,  and  the  fervor  of  his 
wishes  to  preserve  the  Constitution  from  encroachment." 

Though  the  leading  traits  in  the  character  of  the 
Chronicle  were  of  a  strong  political  complexion,  yet 
there  are  many  evidences  that  the  conductors,  — at  least, 
from  the  time  of  Adams  &  Nourse,  —  were  not  deficient 
in  literary  taste.  Their  selections  of  poetry,  which  often 
occupied  an  appropriate  corner,  were  frequently  of  a 
higher  character  than  ordinary.  The  origin  of  the  piece 
which  follows,  is  unknown.  It  is  introduced  by  a  note, 
saying  it  was  suggested  by  a  passage  in  Edwards's  His 
tory  of  the  West  Indies,  which  describes  the  once  cele 
brated  "  Obi,"  —  a  farrago,  composed  of  *blood,  feathers, 
24* 


282  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

parrots'  beaks,  broken  bottles,  grave  dirt,  rum,  and  egg 
shells.  By  the  proper  mixture  of  these  ingredients,  the 
negroes  imagined  they  could  effect  the  destruction  of 
their  enemies :  — 

THE    NEGRO    INCANTATION. 
HAIL  !  ye  sacred  horrors,  hail ! 
Which,  brooding  o'er  this  lonely  vale, 

Swell  the  heart,  impearl  the  eye, 
And  raise  the  rapt  soul  to  the  sky. 

Hail !  spirits  of  the  swarthy  dead, 
Who  flitting  through  the  dreary  shade, 

To  rouse  your  sons  to  vengeance  fell, 

Nightly  raise  the  troublous  yell ! 
Hail !  Minister  of  111,  whose  iron  power 

Pervades  resistless  earth,  and  sea,  and  air, 
Shed  all  thy  influence  on  this  solemn  hour, 

When  we  with  magic  rites  the  white  man's  doom  prepare. 

Thus  Congo  spoke,  "  what  time  the  moon, 

"  Riding  in  her  highest  noon," 

New  beamed  upon  the  sable  crowd, 

Now  vanished  in  the  thickening  cloud. 

'  Twas  silence  all  —  with  frantic  look, 

His  spells  the  hoary  wizard  took ; 

Bending  o'er  the  quivering  flame, 

Convulsion  shook  his  giant  frame  ; 
Close  and  more  close  the  shuddering  captives  throng, 

With  breath  repressed,  and  straining  eye  they  wait, 
When  midst  the  plantains  bursts  the  awful  song, 

The  words  of  mystic  might,  that  seal  their  tyrant's  fate. 

Haste!  the  magick  shreds  prepare  — 

Thus  the  white  man's  corse  we  tear, 

Lo !  feathers  from  the  raven's  plume, 

That  croaks  our  proud  oppressor's  doom. 

Now  to  aid  the  potent  spell, 

Crush  we  next  the  brittle  shell  — 

Tearful  omen  to  the  foe, 

Look !  the  blanched  bones  we  throw. 
From  mouldering  graves  we  stole  this  hallowed  earth, 

Which  mixed  with  blood,  winds  up  the  mystic  charm ; 
Wide  yawns*  the  grave  for  all  of  northern  birth, 

And  soon  shall  smoke  with  blood  each  sable  warrior's  arm. 


INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE.  283 

Hark !  the  pealing  thunders  roll, 

Grateful  to  the  troubled  soul. 

See !  the  gleamy  lightnings  play, 

To  point  you  to  your  destined  prey, 

Hence !  with  silent  foot  and  flow, 

And  sudden  strike  the  deadly  blow : 

Your  foes,  the  balmy  shade  beneath, 

Lie  locked  in  sleep  —  their  sleep  is  death  ! 
Go  !  let  the  memory  of  the  smarting  throng 

Outlead  the  pity  that  would  prompt  to  save ; 
Go  let  the  oppressor's  contumelious  wrong, 

Twice  nerve  the  hero's  arm,  and  make  the  coward  brave. 

Of  the  original  political  poetry  the  following  specimen 
must  suffice.  It  was  written  at  Suffield,  Conn,  and  pro 
posed  as  a  Psalm  for  the  Fast  Day,  appointed  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  to  be  observed  in  the 
beginning  of  May,  1798.  It  will  be  perceived  that  it  is 
a  parody  on  Dr.  Watts's  version  :  — 

PSALM    FOR    THE    FEDERAL    FAST. 

To  the  tune  of  the  148th  Psalm. 

YE  federal  States  combine, 

In  solemn  Fast  and  Prayer ; 
And  urge  the  powers  divine 
To  drive  us  into  war ; 
With  voices  strong,  On  pension  list 

Each  Federalist  Begin  the  song. 

Thy  voice,  O  Pickering,  raise, 
And  Wolcott  join  the  song ; 
Sing  to  Britannia's  praise, 
Let  Jay  the  strain  prolong ; 

Your  ancient  friend,          In  this  dark  hour 
Ye  men  in  power,  With  zeal  defend. 

The  British  Empire,  lo ! 

In  matchless  order  stands, 
Or  moves,  when  bid  to  go 
By  Guelph's  supreme  commands ; 

He  sends  his  fleet,  In  reverence  low 

And  France  must  bow     At  George's  feet. 


284  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

For  bribery  moved  their  wheels 

Through  many  ages  past, 
And  each  his  word  fulfils 
While  cash  and  credit  last. 
In  different  ways  You  hope  the  fame 

Your  works  proclaim  ;      You  so  much  praise. 
Let  all  the  WELL-BORN  race 
With  SIMPLE  MEN  unite, 
Three  frigates  cleave  the  seas 
And  haughty  Frenchmen  fight ; 

Both  sea  and  shore  And  still  display 

Their  tribute  pay,  Our  wondrous  power. 

Ye  Clergy,  on  this  day 
On  Politics  discourse, 
And  when  ye  rise  to  pray, 
Both  France  and  Frenchmen  curse ; 
For  you  've  a  right  Exhort  and  teach 

To  pray  and  preach,         Mankind  to  fight. 
Ye  funding  gentry,  join 
In  Hamiltonian  choir, 
And  all  your  strength  combine 
To  blow  the  warlike  fire : 

Our  debt  will  then  That  when  we  Ve  peace 

So  much  increase,  We  '11  fund  again. 

Ye  Federal  Judges,  too, 

Devoutly  pray  for  war ; 
You  've  little  now  to  do 
In  distributing  Law. 

Nor  let  the  dream  Make  you  forget 

Of  power  and  state  The  power  supreme. 

Let  Hartford  wits  proceed 

To  sing  John  Adams'  praise, 
Canaan's  poets  feed 

Shall  high  his  honours  raise ; 

Then  will  the  song  And  through  the  air 

Join  well  with  prayer ;      Waft  smooth  along. 
Let  all  the  States  attend, 
At  this  his  solemn  call, 
To  curse  their  ancient  friend 
And  bless  our  rulers  all : 

For  this'  the  day,  Through  the  whole  land 

That,  heart  and  hand,      For  WAR  we  pray. 


INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE.  285 

The  following  piece  is  said  to  be  the  production  of  "  a 
minor."  As  poetry,  it  may  not  survive  the  test  of  severe 
criticism  ;  but  as  a  specimen  of  juvenile  composition, 
imbued  with  moral  sentiment,  it  may  be  worthy  of  repub- 
lication  in  this  place  :  — 

MEDITATIONS    AND     VISION    OF    CASSEM. 
A   MORAL   TALE. 

To  give  my  mind  a  short  reprieve, 
I  passed  a  pleasant  summer's  eve, 

On  Lima's  western  hill. 
Above  my  head,  thro'  space  profound, 
The  stars,  like  diamonds,  twinkled  round, 
Whose  revolutions  know  no  bound, 

But  the  Eternal  will. 

The  moon,  with  solemn  pomp,  had  spread, 
Her  silver  brightness,  through  the  shade. 

I  view'd  the  landscape  o'er. 
Here,  the  whole  town  lies  sunk  in  sleep ; 
There,  rugged  deserts  vast  and  deep ; 
While  waves,  beneath  the  mountains  creep, 

And  nod  against  the  shore. 
I  felt  a  transport,  more  refined, 
Than  can  be  felt,  but  by  a  mind 

Free  from  a  guilty  stain ; 
And  as  I  melted  with  delight, 
Imagination  took  her  flight, 
And  left  the  gloomy  shades  of  night, 

To  seek  the  Elysian  plain  : 
Methought  I  saw,  the  happy  few, 
Searching  the  depths  of  nature  too, 

But  with  enlarged  ken  ; 
(Said  I)  Oh  Cassem !  do  not  these, 
Indulge  the  same  propensities, 
Do  they  not  search  Infinities, 

And  contemplate,  like  men  ? 
Their  faith  to  ample  vision  flows  ; 
They  view  the  systems,  that  compose 

The  universal  frame; 


286  INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE. 

Here,  the  first  stars,  like  suns,  appear, 
And  spread  their  influence  far  and  near, 
While  their  respective  planets,  here, 

Wheel  round  in  liquid  flame. 
Thus  musing,  I  myself  forgot ; 
But  now  a  philosophic  thought, 

Perplexed  my  troubled  breast ; 
I  started  back,  but  how,  (said  I,) 
Can  immateriality, 
Possess  a  sensual  quality  ? 

Or,  how  is  void  imprest  ? 
Can  they  see  verdure,  without  eyes  ? 
Or,  hear  the  music  of  the  skies, 

Without  the  ears  of  men  ? 
Spices,  in  vain,  perfume  the  air, 
If  smelling  be  extinguished  there  ; 
And,  without  taste,  the  trees  would  bear 

Their  blushing  fruit  in  vain. 
As  thus  I  sat,  confus'd  with  doubt, 
I  chanced  to  turn  my  eyes  about, 

And  saw  a  form  divine  ; 
Celestial  love  dawn'd  in  his  face  ; 
A  voice  of  majesty,  and  grace, 
Commanded  me  t'  approach  the  place  ; 

My  willing  feet  incline. 
'  Cassem !  (said  he)  draw  near,  attend, 
'  I  am  the  Genius  your  friend  : 

'  No  more  perplex  thy  mind ; 
'  Of  what  avail  is  it  to  thee, 
'  To  know  how  they  converse,  or  see  ? 
'  Cease,  then,  thy  curiosity, 

'  For  God  is  wise  and  kind. 
'  Oh  Cassem !  be  assured  of  this, 
'  However  formed,  their  happiness 

Exceeds  a  glimmering  thought ; 
'  Body  and  soul  shall  reunite , 
'  Dust  shall  revive,  forever  bright 
'  And  vigorous,  as  morning  light, 

'  Without  a  guilty  spot. 
'  Inquire  no  more,  how  this  shall  be  ; 
'  Go  to  the  Persian  looms,  and  see 

'  The  little  shining  worm ; 


INDEPENDENT    CHRONICLE.  287 

'  He  winds  the  nest,  wherein  he  lies, 

'  Completes  his  work,  contracts,  and  dies ; 

'  Yet  you  behold  this  insect  rise, 

'  A  most  surprizing  form. 
'  It  was  a  worm,  despised  and  slow ; 
'  On  gilded  wings,  it  flutters  now, 

'  A  little  kind  of  bird ; 
'  How  much  improved  is  its  dress, 
'  Adorned,  in  all  its  loveliness, 
'  While  every  gem,  with  readiness, 

'  Its  native  tint  conferred. 
'  Here,  you  behold,  in  miniature, 
'  The  glories  of  that  wondrous  hour; 

'  Let  this  inspire  thy  heart : 
'  Cassem !  regard  the  specimen  ; 
'  Thy  dust  shall  be  inspir'd  again, 
'  And  ever  shine  ;  hope  humbly  then, 

'  But  study  to  depart.' 
Here,  ceased  the  heavenly  messenger, 
When  lo  !  the  music  of  the  air 

Filled  me  with  sweet  surprize. 
Anon,  the  Genius  soared  away, 
And,  as  I  traced  his  wondrous  way, 
I  turned,  and  saw  the  dawning  day, 

Smile  in  the  eastern  skies. 

The   Chronicle  was  a  zealous   advocate  and  sturdy 
supporter  of  the  war  of  1812. 


THE   PENNSYLVANIA  JOURNAL. 


WILLIAM  BRADFORD,  the  grandson  of  that  William 
Bradford,  who  was  the  first  person  that  followed  the 
business  of  printing  in  Pennsylvania,  was  born  in  New- 
York.  He  was  adopted  by  an  uncle,  —  Andrew  Brad 
ford, —  who,  having  no  children  of  his  own,  educated 
him  as  his  son,  and  instructed  him  in  the  art  of  printing. 
In  1741,  he  visited  England,  and  returned  in  1742, 
with  printing  materials  and  a  stock  of  books,  and  imme 
diately  began  business  as  a  printer  and  bookseller.  In 
December  of  that  year,  he  began  the  publication  of  a 
newspaper,  under  the  title  of  The  Pennsylvania  Journal, 
which  was  continued  by  him  and  his  successors  for  more 
than  sixty  years. 

This  paper  was  devoted  to  the  cause  of  freedom  from 
the  dominion  of  Great  Britain.  The  only  volume  of  it, 
which  I  have  seen,  embraces  the  publication  from  Jan 
uary  3,  1765,  to  December  25,  1766  —  a  period  of 
great  interest  in  the  history  of  our  country.  Among 
other  articles  of  importance,  is  the  discussion  concerning 
"  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Franklin  as  agent  for  the 
Province."  It  may  not  be  generally  known,  that 
Franklin  was  suspected  by  some  persons,  of  advising  to 
the  enactment  of  the  Stamp  Act.  The  Journal  of  Jan 
uary  10,  1765,  contains  a  letter  from  John  Hughes,  de- 


WILLIAM    BRADFORD.  289 

fending  Franklin  against  the  remarks  of  an  anonymous 
writer  in  a  former  paper.  The  annexed  extract  from 
this  article  may  serve  as  a  specimen  of  the  style  of  the 
writer,  who  was,  afterwards,  appointed  commissioner  of 
stamps  for  the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  active 
in  carrying  the  act  into  effect :  — 

Permit  me  to  whisper  one  piece  of  advice  in  your  ear.  Tell  your 
friends,  that  their  money,  their  offices  and  pride  seem  to  have  effected 
their  senses,  that  they  whose  originals  are  like  the  fountains  of  the  Nile 
unknown,  ought  to  treat  with  tenderness  and  caution,  the  honest  trades 
men  and  mechanics  of  Philadelphia,  many  of  whom  are  on  a  level 
with,  if  not  greatly  superior,  to  themselves  with  respect  to  family,  for 
tune,  understanding  and  merit.  Let  them  know  that  they  have  been 
out  in  their  policy,  when  they  instructed  you  to  endeavour  to  ridicule 
me  on  account  of  my  having  been  once  a  tradesman.  For  if  it  be  dis 
graceful  to  be  an  honest  farmer  of  mechanic,  I  glory  in  my  disgrace. 
Tell  them  that  the  wealth,  strength,  liberty  and  prosperity  of  the 
province  are  owing  to  the  labour,  industry,  vigilance,  and  steadiness  of 
these  men,  and  these  chiefly.  And  tell  them  seriously  one  thing  more, 
that  should  another  occasion  be  given,  their  own  origins  shall  be  traced 
as  far  as  they  can  be  discovered.  Where  perhaps  we  shall  find  some  at 
the  petty  work  of  filing  the  brazen  wire  and  forming  the  heads  of  pins; 
others  at  the  laborious  toil  of  plying  the  oars  of  an  unwielded  flat;  others 
at  pushing  the  awl  arid  drawing  the  waxen  thread  through  the  greasy 
leather,  or  as  your  present  Poet  Laureat  has  formerly  observed 

"  From  patching  shoes  have  rose  to  patch  the  state ; " 

others  with  difficulty  emerging  from  the  disabled  state  of  Bankruptcy  ; 
and  others  ....  but  I  forbear  the  ignominious  and  infamous  part  of  the 
catalogue.  Nothing  shall  prevail  on  me,  but  the  highest  aggravation, 
to  tarnish  the  characters  of  the  living  with  the  crimes  of  the  dead. 
Know  this  that  merit  is  the  only  true  nobility 

"  A  wit 's  a  feather  and  a  chief's  a  rod, 

"  An  honest  man 's  the  noblest  work  of  God." 

And  that  this  nobility  is  as  often  to  be  found  among  the  honest  Farm 
ers,  Mechanics,  and  Tradesmen  of  Pennsylvania,  as  among  those  who 
affect  the  character  of  gentlemen,  and  assume  the  airs  of  quality.  But  if 
you  dare  not  be  thus  free  with  them  for  fear  of  losing  your  bread,  de 
sist  however  from  ridiculing  mankind,  on  account  of  their  trades  and 

VOL.    I.  25 


290  PENNSYLVANIA    JOURNAL. 

occupations,  lest  you  gnaw  a  file  which  will  render  you  toothless,  and 
incapable  of  biting  forever. 

Hughes  was  a  Tory  and  a  hypocrite  as  is  manifest 
from  several  of  his  letters  to  the  commissioner  of  the 
stamp-office  in  London,  published  in  the  Journal  of 
September  4,  1766. 

The  Journal  of  October  31,  1765,  has  its  pages 
enclosed  in  broad  black  lines,  with  the  picture  of  a  skull 
and  bones,  a  spade  and  pick-axe,  and  other  emblems  of 
mortality,  over  the  title  ;  under  the  title  is  printed  in  large 
type  :  — 

EXPIRING:  In  Hopes  of  a  Resurrection  to  LIFE  again. 

At  the  head  of  the  first  column  is  a  notice  from  the 
editor,  saying,  —  "  I  am  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  acquaint 
my  readers,  that,  as  the  Stamp  act  is  feared  to  be  obliga 
tory  upon  us  after  the  First  of  November  evening,  (the 
fatal  To-morrow,)  the  Publisher,  unable  to  bear  the 
Burthen,  has  thought  it  expedient  to  STOP  awhile,  in 
order  to  deliberate,  whether  any  methods  can  be  found 
to  elude  the  chains  forged  for  us,  and  escape  the  insup 
portable  Slavery  ;  which,  it  is  hoped,  from  the  just  repre 
sentations  now  made  against  this  Act,  may  be  effected. 
Meanwhile  I  must  earnestly  request  every  individual  of 
my  Subscribers,  that  they  would  immediately  discharge 
their  respective  arrears,  that  I  may  be  able,  not  only  to 
support  myself  during  the  Interval,  but  be  the  better 
prepared  to  proceed  again  with  the  paper,  whenever  an 
opening  for  that  purpose  appears,  which  I  hope  will  be 
soon.  WILLIAM  BRADFORD." 

Running  along  the  border  of  the  first  page  is  the  fol 
lowing  :  — 

Adieu,  adieu,  to  the  LIBERTY  of  the  PRESS. 


WILLIAM    BRADFORD.  291 

At^the  foot  of  the  last  column  of  the  third  page  are 
the  words,  "  Farewell  LIBERTY."  At  the  foot  of  the 
third  column  of  the  fourth  page,  is  a  cut  representing 
a  coffin,  underneath  which  is  the  inscription  :  — 

The  last  Remains  of 

The  PENNSYLVANIA  JOURNAL, 

Which  departed  this  Life,  the  31st  of  October,  1765, 

Of  a  STAMP  in  her  Vitals, 

Aged  23  Years. 

It  seems,  however,  that  the  publication  was  not  dis 
continued.  The  next  paper  is  destitute  of  the  title,  and 
in  its  place  are  the  words,  "  No  Stamp-Paper  to  be  had." 
In  the  next  succeeding  publication,  the  title  is  restored, 
and  remains  unchanged,  except  by  the  addition  of  a 
very  handsome  device,  representing  an  open  volume,  on 
which  appears  the  word  JOURNAL  ;  underneath  the  vol 
ume  is  a  ship  under  sail ;  the  volume  is  supported  by  two 
figures,  one,  a  female  representing  Fame  with  her  trumpet, 
the  otheran  aboriginal  American,  with  his  bow  and  arrows. 

Accompanying  the  first  publication  in  January,  1766, 
are  the  following  verses,  printed  on  a  quarter  of  a  sheet 
of  writing  paper,  and  which  are  the  earliest  that  I  have 
met  with  in  this  department  of  Newspaper  Literature  :  — 

THE  NEW -YEAR  VERSES 

OF 

THE  PRINTER'S  LADS,  WHO  CARRY 

THE 

PENNSYLVANIA  JOURNAL 

To  the  Customers. 
PHILADELPHIA,  JANUARY  IST,  1776. 

She  comes !  She  comes !  —  I  hear  the  festive  Sound, 
The  Goddess  comes  !  —  Let  Hills  and  Vales  resound! 
Before  her  Car  the  white-wing'd  Minutes  fly, 
And  Light  unbars  the  Portals  of  the  Sky. 


292  PENNSYLVANIA    JOURNAL. 

Old  Phcebus,  rolling  up  the  eastern  "Way, 
Exultant  leads  the  rosy-featur'd  Day,  • 

While  grim-ey'd  Darkness,  from  Night's  sable  Rear 
Retiring,  scowls  upon  the  new-born  Year. 

Then  Fancy,  haste,  and  with  thee  bring  along, 
To  grace  the  Scene,  Apollo's  tuneful  Throng. 
Fair  C7zo,  haste,  our  eager  Souls  inspire, 
And  shake  soft  Music  from  your  dulcet  Lyre. 
'Tis  done :  —  And  lo  where  springs  the  Fount  of  Day, 
The  blooming  Sisters  wing  their  orient  Way. 
"  Hoarse  Delaware  the  joyful  Tidings  brings, 
"And  all  his  Swans,  transported,  clap  their  Wings." 

No  more  stern  War,  exulting  in  her  Slain, 
Horrific  stalks  along  the  gory  Plain. 
Peace,  blue-ey'd  Goddess,  gave  the  mild  Command, 
And  bade  Destruction  hold  his  ruthless  Hand. 
Contending  Nations  heard  the  pow'rful  Word, 
And  all  obedient  sheath' d  the  reeky  Sword ! 
Yon  wilderd  Scenes  where  oft  at  Midnight  drear, 
The  gloomy  Savage  roam'd  devoid  of  Fear, 
Religion  there  shall  build  her  radiant  Shrine, 
And  Science  blossom  to  the  latest  Time. 
There  too  at  Eve,  along  the  dewy  Grove, 
Shall  future  Popes  and  future  Miltons  rove. 
Ohio's  Banks,  where  gentle  Braddock  fell, 
No  more  shall  learn  th'  infernal  savage  Yell ; 
No  more  its  Streams,  deep-dy'd  with  Warrior's  Gore, 
Shall  roll  their  crimson  Billows  from  the  Shore. 
In  after  Times,  some  venerable  Seer 
Shall  tell  his  hapless  Story  with  a  Tear ; 
How  there,  the  Wound  unable  to  sustain, 
He,  undistinguish'd,  join'd  th'  uncoffin'd  Slain. 

Charm'd  into  Peace,  within  the  breezy  Shade, 
The  painted  Boy  shall  woo  his  nut-brown  Maid. 
His  melting  Tale  shall  soothe  her  list'ning  Ear, 
And  from  her  bosom  force  the  tender  Tear. 
She  too  when  Evening  hushes  all  the  Plain, 
With  Haste  shall  run  to  meet  her  faithful  Swain, 
Within  the  Grove,  where  o'er  the  Mountain's  Height, 
The  full-orb'd  Cynthia  sheds  her  maiden  Light. 
There  first  her  tender  Breast  shall  catch  the  Flame, 
And  glow  and  tremble  with  the  pleasing  Pain ; 


WILLIAM    AND    THOMAS    BRADFORD.  293 

The  rising  Blush  Love's  conscious  Pow'r  shall  own, 
And  speak  a  Passion  to  the  Maid  unknown. 

But  ah,  my  Muse  !  —  what  sudden  Horrors  rise! 
The  smiling  Prospect  swims  before  my  Eyes  ! 
What  boding  Sadness  checks  my  ling'ring  Mind  ! 
I  hear  a  Voice  in  each  low  Gust  of  Wind. 
'Tis  he !  'tis  he  !  Oh  hide  the  dreadful  Scene, 
Rise,  Mountains,  rise,  and  boundless  Worlds  between ! 
Tis  he,  whom  late  in  Victory  array'd, 
We  hail'd  triumphant  in  the  peaceful  Shade  !  * 
As  lost  in  Thought,  along  Ontario's  Shore, 
The  Indian  Sage  new  Wonders  shall  explore, 
His  gentle  Form  shall  startle  on  his  View, 
And  all  his  throbbing  Soul  shall  bleed  anew. 
O  sacred  Shade !  if  yet  thou  deign'st  to  hear, 
Forgive  this  rude  involuntary  Tear ; 
And  as  bright-mounted  on  the  Wings  of  Day, 
Thou  rid'st  sublime  along  th'  empyreal  Way, 
When  War  arous'd  leads  on  his  hardy  Train, 
And  all  the  Battle  gleams  along  the  Plain, 
Then  let  thy  Guardian- Spirit  hover  nigh, 
And  teach  to  conquer,  or,  untam'd,  to  die. 

In  September,  this  year,  Bradford  took  into  partner 
ship  his  son,  Thomas  Bradford,  and  the  Journal  was 
thenceforth  published  by  William  and  Thomas  Bradford. 

The  Journal  of  September  4,  1766,  is  nearly  filled 
with  letters  from  John  Hughes  (before  mentioned)  to 
the  Commissioner  of  the  Stamp-office  in  London,  from 
which  it  is  manifest  that  he  was  a  Tory  and  a  hypocrite. 
He  complained,  in  the  next  paper,  that  some  anony 
mous  persons,  with  a  view  of  hurting  his  reputation, 
and  serving  their  purpose  at  the  approaching  election, 
(Hughes  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature)  had  furnished 
copies  of  these  letters,  which  were  not  genuine,  &ic. 
He  pronounced  them  forgeries,  and  commenced  an  action 

*  General  BOUQUET. 
25* 


294  PENNSYLVANIA    JOURNAL. 

against  the  printers,  as  he  said,  "  in  order  to  do  himself 
justice." 

To  this  notice,  the  editors  annexed  an  article  written 
with  dignified  manliness  and  courtesy,  but  with  becom 
ing  severity  against  Hughes,  whose  notice  they  called  a 
"  fresh  instance  of  his  regard  to  the  Liberties  of  his 
fellow-subjects,  in  his  impotent  but  ill-natured  attempt 
against  the  Liberty  of  the  Press."  They  proceed  to 
say:  — 

His  suing  the  Printers  of  the  Pennsylvania  Journal,  for  printing  au 
exact  copy  of  his  own  letters,  is  no  more  than  the  ill-judged  effect  of 
that  insatiable  passion  which  he  has,  to  trample  upon  the  most  sacred 
Rights  and  Privileges  of  British  subjects  in  America.  The  letters 
themselves,  which  are  but  the  history  of  his  own  conduct  for  a  consid 
erable  time  past,  plainly  discover  how  heartily  and  passionately  he 
wished  for  the  favourable  opportunity  which  would  put  it  into  the 
power  of  this  excellent  patriot,  to  execute  the  detestable  STAMP  ACT, 
which  no  American  can  mention  without  abhorrence,  and  to  reduce  the 
free  born  Sons  of  Britain  to  a  state  of  the  most  wretched  slavery. 
What  else  can  be  the  meaning  of  his  barefaced  Falsehood,  in  represent 
ing  North- America  as  in  a  state  of  absolute  rebellion  against  the  best  of 
Kings,  and  in  using  all  his  feeble  endeavours  to  excite  his  Majesty  and 
his  Ministers  to  send  over  an  armed  force  to  quell  us,  as  he  modestly 
terms  it  ?  But  such  is  his  insensibility  to  all  the  dictates  of  Honour  or 
publick  Virtue,  that  to  compleat  his  character,  he  would  now  attempt 
to  demolish  the  Liberty  of  the  Press,  that  invaluable  privilege  of  a  free 
people ;  because  through  that  channel  his  hidden  arts  are  brought  to 
Light. 

'Tis  but  a  piece  of  justice  to  the  public,  to  let  them  know  his  last 
effort  to  prop  his  sinking  character,  which  has  long  laboured  under  vio 
lent  suspicions.  He  procured  a  writ  for  the  printers  of  his  letters,  on 
Saturday  last,  which  was  executed  by  the  Sheriff  on  Monday  morning 
following ;  as  twelve  hundred  pounds  damages  were  marked  upon  the 
writ,  the  printers  sent  him  a  notice  about  12  o'clock,  to  appear  before  a 
Magistrate  to  shew  cause  of  action ;  but  he  refused  to  appear.  At  4 
o'clock,  the  same  afternoon,  they  sent  him  another  notice,  to  appear  for 
the  same  purpose  at  10  o'clock  the  next  day,  and  informed  him,  that 
unless  he  appeared,  they  would  move  for  a  discharge  from  the  arrest. 
But  such  was  the  consciousness  of  his  guilt,  that  he  refused  again  to 


WILLIAM    AND    THOMAS    BRADFORD.  295 

appear,  and  as  he  could  not  be  compelled  by  law  to  shew  cause  of  action, 
the  arrest  was  accordingly  discharged.  "We  are  only  the  printers  of  a 
free  and  impartial  paper,  and  we  challenge  Mr.  Hughes  and  the  world, 
to  convict  us  of  partiality  in  this  respect,  or  of  even  an  inclination  to 
restrain  the  freedom  of  the  press  in  any  instance.  We  can  appeal  to 
North- America  not  only  for  our  impartiality  as  printers,  but  also  for 
the  great  advantages  derived  to  us  very  lately  from  the  unrestrained 
liberty,  which  every  Briton  claims  of  communicating  his  sentiments  to 
the  public  thro'  the  channel  of  the  press.  What  would  have  become  of 
the  liberties  of  the  British  Colonies  in  North- America,  if  Mr.  Hughes's 
calls  on  Great  Britain  had  been  heard,  to  restrain  the  printers  here  from 
publishing  what  he  is  pleased  to  stile  inflammatory  pieces,  and  if  every 
prostitute  scribbler,  and  enemy  to  his  country  had  been  suffered,  with 
out  control  from  the  pens  of  true  patriots,  to  rack  their  distempered 
brains,  to  find  out  arguments  to  gull  a  free-born  people  into  a  tame 
submission  to  perpetual  slavery,  and  to  impose  their  flimsy  cobwebs 
upon  us,  instead  of  solid  and  substantial  reasoning  ?  To  the  freedom 
of  the  press  in  America  we  may  in  a  great  measure  attribute  the  con 
tinuance  of  those  inherent  and  constitutional  privileges,  which  we  yet 
enjoy  and  which  every  Briton,  who  is  not  inslaved  to  private  or  party 
interests,  prefers  to  his  life.  We  cannot  therefore  doubt,  but  that  the 
happiness,  which  now  reigns  through  all  the  British  plantations,  will 
inspire  every  friend  of  his  country  with  an  honest  and  generous  indig 
nation  against  the  wretch  that  would  attempt  to  enslave  his  countrymen 
by  restraints  on  the  press. 

We  would  now  inform  the  publick,  that  the  letters  of  Mr.  Galloway 
and  Mr.  Hughes,  which  we  printed  in  our  last  week's  paper,  were  trans 
mitted  to  Philadelphia,  by  Capt.  Sparks,  from  a  gentleman  in  London 
of  character  and  integrity,  who  is  a  friend  of  North- America,  and  never 
was  accounted  capable  of  imposing  upon  the  publick.  They  were  pub- 
licky  seen  and  read  in  the  Coffee-Houses  in  London  by  great  numbers, 
were  laid  before  the  Parliament,  and  are  copied  verbatim  in  their 
Books.  They  came  as  genuine  into  our  hands,  as  such  we  laid  them 
before  the  publick,  and  such,  we  have  it  in  our  power  to  prove  them. 
But  were  there  no  other  evidences  of  his  writing  the  letters  we  printed, 
there  may  be  sufficient  Proofs  of  the  Fact  taken  from  the  very  letters 
themselves,  to  shew  them  the  genuine  Productions  of  his  accurate 
pen.  —  Let  not  Mr.  Hughes  therefore  think  that  his  weak  and  faint 
denial  of  the  Genuineness  of  the  Letters  will  pass  with  the  impartial 
world,  as  sufficient  to  overthrow  such  a  Variety  and  Strength  of  Evi 
dence,  as  the  Public  is  already  possessed  of  against  him.  Let  him 
reconcile  the  assurances  he  has  given  to  the  Commissioners  of  the 


296  PENNSYLVANIA    JOURNAL. 

Stamp-office,  that  he  would  faithfully  execute  the  stamp-office  when  it  would 
be  in  his  power,  with  his  full  resignation  of  it  which  he  made  to  the 
public,  before  he  can  expect  to  be  believed  in  any  matter  by  his  fellow- 
citizens.  WILLIAM  &  THOMAS  BRADFORD. 

Subsequent  papers  contain  "  An  Essay  towards  dis 
covering  the  Authors  and  Promoters  of  the  memorable 
Stamp  Act,  written  by  a  gentleman  in  London  to  his 
friend  in  Philadelphia,"  in  which  the  writer  endeavors  to 
prove  that  Dr.  Franklin  was  guilty  of  duplicity  in  rela 
tion  to  the  passage  of  that  act ;  that  in  his  intercourse 
with  the  British  ministry,  he  approved  and  commended 
the  measure,  while,  to  the  American  people,  he  professed 
to  oppose  it ;  that  he  had  nothing  else  in  view,  than  to 
obtain  a  change  in  the  government  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
get  himself  placed  at  the  head  of  it ;  and  thus,  grossly 
betraying  his  constituents,  he  could  not  be  safely  trusted 
as  their  agent.* 

WILLIAM  BRADFORD  was  one  of  the  first  persons  in 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  to  oppose  the  Stamp  Act,  and 
entertained  uncompromising  hostility  to  all  the  succeed 
ing  measures  of  the  British  government,  in  relation  to 
the  Colonies.  He  took  arms  in  an  early  stage  of  the 
Revolutionary  war:  and  although  he  had  reached  the 
age,  at  which  the  law  exempts  men  from  military  ser 
vice,  he  encountered  the  fatigues  of  a  winter  campaign, 
and  performed  duty  as  a  major  in  the  militia,  in  the 
memorable  battle  of  Trenton.  He  shared  the  honors 
of  the  day  at  Princeton,  and  returned  Colonel  of  the 
regiment,  of  which  he  went  out  Major.  He  was  at  Fort 
Mifflin  when  it  was  attacked  by  the  Hessians,  and  in 
several  other  engagements.  A  few  days  before  the 

*  These  changes  are  refuted  in  Sparks's  Life  of  Franklin,   "  Continuation," 
chap.  iv. 


WILLIAM    AND    THOMAS    BRADFORD.  297 

British  troops  took  possession  of  Philadelphia,  he  was 
entrusted  by  the  Governor  with  the  command  of  the 
city,  and  the  care  of  removing  the  stores.  Having  per 
formed  this  service,  he  left  the  city  as  the  enemy  was 
entering  it,  and  went  to  Fort  Mifflin,  where  he  remained 
till  that  fortress  was  evacuated.  From  that  time,  he 
remained  at  Trenton,  till  the  British  army  left  Philadel 
phia.  He  then  returned  to  the  city,  and  re-opened  his 
printing-office,  and  resumed  the  publication  of  his  paper, 
which  had  been  suspended  while  the  city  was  in  the 
possession  of  the  enemy.  He  returned  from  the  hazards 
of  public  service  with  a  broken  constitution  and  depre 
ciated  property.  A  few  years  after  he  had  an  attack  of 
paralysis,  which  ultimately  proved  fatal.  Bradford 
complied,  literally,  with  a  resolve  of  the  early  Revo 
lutionists,  "  to  risk  his  life  and  fortune  for  the  preserva 
tion  of  the  liberties  of  his  country."  After  the  peace 
was  established,  he  consoled  himself  under  his  misfor 
tunes  ;  and  in  his  solitary  hours,  reflected  with  pleasure, 
that  he  had  done  all  in  his  power  to  secure,  for  his 
country,  a  name  among  independent  nations  ;  and  he 
frequently  said  to  his  children,  "  though  I  bequeath 
you  no  estate,  I  leave  you  in  the  enjoyment  of  lib 
erty."  * 

*  Thomas's  History  of  Printing,  vol.  ii.  pp.  50,51. 


THE    ESSEX    JOURNAL. 


A  PAPER  entitled  "The  Essex  Journal,  and  Merri- 
mack  Packet ;  Or  the  Massachusetts  and  New-Hamp 
shire  General  Advertiser,"  was  published  in  Newbury- 
port.  "  It  was  issued  from  the  press,  December  4,  1773, 
by  Isaiah  Thomas,  printed  on  a  crown  sheet  folio,  equal  in 
size  to  most  of  the  papers  then  published  in  Boston. 
At  first  its  day  of  publication  was  Saturday,  afterward 
Wednesday.  Two  cuts  were  in  the  title  ;  one,  the  left, 
representing  the  arms  of  the  Province,  that  on  the  right, 
a  ship  under  sail.  Imprint,  — ( Newbury-Port :  Printed 
by  Isaiah  Thomas  and  Henry  Walter  Tinges,  in  King- 
street,  opposite  the  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons's  Meeting-house,' 
&c.  Thomas  was  the  proprietor  of  the  Journal ;  he 
lived  in  Boston,  and  there  published  the  Massachusetts 
Spy.  Tinges,  as  a  partner  in  the  Journal,  managed  the 
concerns  of  it.  Before  the  expiration  of  a  year,  Thomas 
sold  his  right  in  the  paper  to  Ezra  Lunt ;  and,  about 
two  years  after,  Lunt  sold  to  John  Mycall.  Tinges 
was  a  partner  to  both ;  but  to  the  latter  only  for  about 
six  months,  when  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and 
Mycall  became  the  sole  publisher  of  the  Essex  Journal, 
—  the  publication  of  which  he  continued  many  years." 

Thus  far  the  history  of  this  paper  is  given  by  Mr. 
Thomas,  and  nothing  can  be  added,  except  a  few  speci- 


JOHN    MYCALL.  299 

mens  of  the  composition  of  its  editors  and  their  corre 
spondents.  The  first  article  in  the  first  number  is  an  ad 
dress  to  the  Public,  signed  Isaiah  Thomas,  stating,  that, — 
"  Many  respectable  Gentlemen,  Friends  to  LITERATURE, 
having  expressed  their  earnest  desire  that  a  PRINT 
ING-OFFICE  might  be  established  in  this  populous 
Town,  the  Inhabitants  in  general  being  sensible  of  the 
great  Want  thereof,  and  the  Patronage  and  Assistance 
they  have  kindly  promised  to  give,  has  encouraged  me 
to  procure  the  necessary  Apparatus  for  carrying  on  the 
PRINTING  BUSINESS,  and  OPENING  here;  and  ani 
mates  rne  to  hope  that  every  PUBLIC  SPIRITED 
GENTLEMAN,  in  this  and  the  Places  adjacent,  will 
promote  so  USEFUL  an  Undertaking." 

This  is  followed  by  the  conditions  on  which  the  paper 
was  proposed  to  be  published,  and  more  than  two  col 
umns  of  remarks  on  "  the  great  utility  of  a  Printing- 
Press,  "  and  the  circulation  of  newspapers ;  and  an  ex 
position  of  what  the  publishers  considered  to  be  their 
duty,  and  the  principles  by  which  they  intended  to  gov 
ern  their  conduct.  They  promised,  when  political  dis 
putes  ran  high,  readers  might  depend  on  hearing  both 
sides  of  the  question,  "  with  the  greatest  impartiality." 

In  the  second  number  they  returned  their  "sincere 
thanks  to  those  gentlemen  and  ladies,  who,  by  their 
encouragement,  had  so  far  assisted  them,  that  Number 
II.  of  the  Essex  Journal,  makes  its  appearance,"  and,  in 
the  form,  customary  at  that  day,  solicited  further  aid. 

The  first  original  articles  are  a  couple  of  communica 
tions,  ironically  describing  the  advantages  of  patronizing 
"the  much  injured  Lady  TEA,"  about  whom  the 
world  made  such  a  bustle.  These  articles  produced 


300  ESSEX    JOURNAL. 

others,  but  none  of  them  had  a  superabundance  of  wit 
or  humor,  though  some  of  them  discovered  a  spice  of 
ill-nature  in  the  writers.  The  following  verses,  —  which 
have  been  frequently  published,  —  appear  in  the  Journal 
of  March  16,  1774,  as  original  :  — 

A  PROPER   SUBJECT  OF  MEDITATION  TO    SMOKERS  OF  TOBACCO. 
In  Two  Parts. 

FIRST. 

This  Indian  weed,  now  withered  quite, 
Though  green  at  noon,  cut  down  at  night, 

Shows  thy  decay : 

All  flesh  is  hay : 
Thus  think  and  smoke  Tobacco. 
The  Pipe,  so  lily  like  and  weak, 
Does  thus  thy  mortal  state  bespeak ; 

Thou  'rt  even  such, 

Gone  with  a  touch ; 
Thus  think  and  smoke  Tobacco. 
And  when  the  smoke  ascends  on  high, 
Then  thou  behold'st  the  vanity 

Of  worldly  stuff 

Gone  with  a  puff; 
Thus  think  and  smoke  Tobacco. 
And  when  the  Pipe  grows  foul  within 
Think  on  thy  soul,  denied  with  sin ; 

For  then  the  fire 

It  does  require ; 
Thus  think  and  smoke  Tobacco. 

PART    II. 

Was  this  small  plant  for  thee  cut  down  ; 
So  was  the  Plant  of  great  renown, 

Which  Mercy  sends 

For  nobler  ends : 
Thus  think  and  smoke  Tobacco. 
Doth  juice  medicinal  proceed 
From  such  a  naughty  foreign  weed  ? 

Then  what 's  the  power 

Of  Jesse's  flower  ? 
Thus  think  and  smoke  Tobacco. 


JOHN    MYCALL.  301 

The  promise,  like  the  Pipe,  inlays, 
And,  by  the  mouth  of  faith,  conveys 

What  virtue  flows 

From  Sharon's  Rose : 
Thus  think  and  smoke  Tobacco. 
In  vain  the  enlightened  Pipe  you  blow; 
Your  pains  in  outward  means  are  so : 

Till  heavenly  fire 

Your  heart  inspire : 
Thus  think  and  smoke  Tobacco. 
The  smoke,  like  burning  incense  towers : 
So  should  a  praying  heart  of  yours, 

With  ardent  cries, 

Surmount  the  skies : 
Thus  think  and  smoke  Tobacco. 

The  communication,  that  follows,  is  an  exponent  of 
opinions  that  were  prevalent  a  century  ago  in  New-Eng 
land.  Some  parts  of  the  censure  may  pass  for  sound 
doctrine  at  this  time,  or  at  all  times  ;  but  there  are  some 
among  us,  who  will  hardly  subscribe  to  the  whole  of  it, 
—  especially  those  who  repudiate  the  writer's  notion, 
that  "  submission  to  the  male  sex  is  an  indispensable  part 
of  the  female  character  "  :  — 

MESSRS.  PRINTERS, 

There  are  several  vices,  to  which  the  female  world  are,  (I  wish  I 
could  not  with  justice  say)  generally  prone ;  if  you  will  let  them  know 
what  they  are,  you  will  oblige,  &c. 

1.  Vanity.  This  vice  is,  if  possible,  more  absurd  in  woman  kind 
than  in  the  other  sex.  Men  have  bodily  strength,  authority,  learning, 
and  such  like  pretences  for  puffing  themselves  up  with  pride.  But 
woman's  only  peculiar  boast  is  beauty.  For  virtue  and  good  sense  are 
never  the  subjects  of  vanity.  There  is  no  endowment  of  less  conse 
quence  than  elegance  of  form  and  outside.  A  mass  of  flesh  and  blood, 
humors  and  impurities,  covered  over  with  a  well  colored  skin,  is  the 
definition  of  beauty.  Whether  is  this  more  properly  a  matter  of  vanity 
or  mortification  ?  Were  it  incomparably  more  excellent  than  it  is, 
nothing  can  be  more  absurd  than  to  be  proud  of  what  one  has  no  man 
ner  of  hand  in  getting,  but  is  wholly  the  gift  of  Heaven.  A  woman 
26 


302  ESSEX    JOURNAL. 

may  as  well  be  proud  of  the  lilies  of  the  field,  or  the  tulips  of  the  gar 
den,  as  her  own  face  ;  they  are  both  the  work  of  the  same  hand  — 
equally  out  of  human  power  to  give  or  to  preserve  ;  equally  trifling  and 
despicable,  when  compared  with  what  is  substantially  excellent ;  equally 
frail  and  perishing. 

2.  Affectation  is  a  vice,  capable  of  disgracing  beauty,  worse  than 
pimples  or  the  small  pox.     I  have  often  seen  ladies  in  assemblies  and 
public  places,  of  the  most  exquisite  forms,  render  themselves,  by  affec 
tation  and  visible  conceit,  too  odious  to  be  looked  at  without  disgust, 
who,  by  a  modest  and  truly  female  behavior,  might  have  commanded 
the  admiration  of  every  eye.    But  I  shall  say  less  upon  this  head,  in 
consideration  that  it  is  (generally  speaking)  to  our  sex  that  female 
affectation  is  to  be  charged.    A  woman  cannot,  indeed,  become  com 
pletely  foolish  or  vicious  without  our  assistance. 

3.  Talkativeness.     This,  in  either  sex,  is  generally  a  proof  of  vanity 
or  folly ;  but  is  in  woman  kind,  especially  in  company  with  men,  and, 
above  all,  with  men  of  understanding  and  learning,  wholly  out  of 
character,  and  particularly  disagreeable  to  people  of  sense.     If  we 
appeal  either  to  reason,  scripture,  or  universal  consent,  we  shall  find  a 
degree  of  submission  to  the  male  sex,  to  be  an  indispensable  part  of  the 
female  character :     And,  to  set  up  for  an  equality  with  the  sex,  to  which 
nature  has  given  the  advantage,  and  formed  for  authority  and  action,  is 
opposing  Nature,  —  which  is  never  done  innocently. 

4.  Dress.     Too  great  delight  in  dress  and  finery,  by  the  expense  of 
time  and  money,  which  they  occasion  in  some  instances,  to  a  degree 
beyond  all  bounds  of  decency  and  common  sense,  tends  naturally  to 
sink  a  woman  to  the  lowest  pitch  of  contempt,  amongst  all  those  of 
either  sex,  who  have  capacity  enough  to  put  two  thoughts  together.    A 
creature,  who  spends  its  whole  time  in  dressing,  prating,  gaming,  and 
gadding,  is  a  being,  —  originally  indeed  of  the  rational  make,  but  who 
has  sunk  itself  beneath  its  rank,  and  is  to  be  considered  at  present,  as 
nearly  on  a  level  with  the  monkey  species. 

If  this  should  have  the  desired  effect,  you  may  possibly,  in  some 
future  paper,  hear  more  from  A  FRIEND  TO  THE  PUBLIC. 

Newbury-Port,  April  4,  1774. 

Whether  this  lecture  had  the  "  desired  effect "  or  not, 
is  not  to  be  ascertained  from  the  very  imperfect  file  of 
the  Journal. 

While  Tinges  was  connected  with  this  paper,  it  was 
well  conducted,  and  was  the  channel,  through  which 


TINGES, 


303 


some  able  writers  communicated  with  the  public.  After 
it  fell  into  the  hands  of  Mycall,  the  writers,  who  had 
aided  the  former  editor,  seemed  to  abandon  it  altogether. 
The  files  in  my  possession,  are  very  imperfect  ;  and  it  is 
rare  to  meet  with  an  editorial  paragraph  of  any  merit,  or 
a  communication  worthy  of  notice. 

Of  those,  who  were  connected  with  the  Journal  as 
editors,  little  is  known.  THOMAS  TINGES  was  a  printer, 
and  served  his  apprenticeship,  in  part,  with  Fleming, 
and  the  rest  with  Thomas.  He  was  a  native  of  Boston. 
From  Newburyport,  he  went  to  Baltimore,  and  thence 
to  sea  ;  but  it  is  not  known  that  he  ever  returned. 

EZRA  LUNT  was  a  native  of  Newburyport,  and  was 
the  proprietor  of  a  line  of  stages,  when  he  became  a 
partner  with  Tinges.  He  knew  nothing,  previously,  of 
the  printing  business,  and  probably  acquired  no  know 
ledge  of  it  during  the  short  time  he  was  connected  with 
the  Journal.  During  the  Revolutionary  war,  he  entered 
the  army,  and  afterward  removed  to  Ohio. 

JOHN  MYCALL  was  not  educated  as  a  printer.  He 
was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  and  kept  a  school  in  New 
buryport  before  he  purchased  the  Journal.  He  published 
the  paper  about  twenty  years  ;  afterwards  purchased  and 
resided  on  a  farm  in  the  county  of  Worcester.  From 
thence  he  removed  to  Cambridge,  where  he  died  about 
the  year  1826. 


THE   INDEPENDENT   LEDGER 

AND 

AMERICAN    ADVERTISER. 


ON  Monday,  June  J5,  1778,  Draper  &  Folsom  laid 
before  the  public  the  first  number  of  a  paper  with  this 
title,  in  the  centre  of  which  was  this  device :  — 


Under  the  device  was  the  motto,  "  All  hands  with  one 
inflamed  and  enlightened  Heart." 

It  was  proposed  to  continue  the  publication  on  Mon 
days,  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  "  many  gentle- 


DRAPER    AND    FOLSOM.  305 

men,"  there  being  two  on  Thursday.  In  a  very  respect 
ful  and  modest  address  the  publishers  said,  — "  We 
mean  not  to  raise  and  deceive  the  expectations  of  the 
public,  by  pompous  pretensions ;  but  we  dare  to  pro 
mise  that  we  will  spare  no  pains  or  cost  to  procure  the 
freshest  advices  from  Europe  and  all  parts  of  America, 
which  we  will  deliver  to  the  public  in  a  faithful  manner 
and  clear  arrangement ;  doing  every  thing  in  our  power 

to  render  this  paper  both  useful  and  entertaining 

We  are  young  beginners,  and  hope  for  the  candor  and 
countenance  of  the  community,"  &c.  &c. 

As  might  be  supposed,  from  the  device  and  motto  at 
the  head  of  the  paper,  the  publishers  were  pure  Whigs. 
There  is  very  little  of  their  own  composition  in  their 
columns,  but  what  there  is,  indicates  their  entire  devo 
tion  to  the  independence  of  the  Colonies.  Their  selec 
tions  were  made  from  the  best  sources,  and  many  of  the 
original  communications,  are  productions  worthy  of  the 
times,  and  of  the  character,  which  the  publishers  pro 
fessed  to  maintain. 

In   one   of  the   early   numbers   of  the   Ledger,   the 
annexed  article  appears  as  a  communication :  — 
MESSRS.  DRAPER  &  FOLSOM, 

I  am  no  great  writer  or  talker,  but  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing 
much,  and  now  and  then  give  out  a  watchword  for  the  safety  of  my 
neighbors.  Formerly,  the  first  military  word  given  to  the  soldiers  at 
their  exercise,  was,  Take  Heed!  afterwards,  it  was  changed  to  Have  a 
Care  I  now,  it  is,  Attention  !  I  see  no  difference  in  the  sense,  but,  not 
to  be  out  of  the  fashion,  I  will  take  the  last. 

ATTENTION!  my  fellow-citizens.  —  to  your  rulers  of  every  order ;  for, 
if  you  do  not  attend  to  them,  they  will  attend  to  themselves,  and  not  to 
you.  No  free  people  ever  long  preserved  their  liberty  and  happiness, 
without  watching  those,  who  held  the  reins  of  government. 

ATTENTION  !  — to  the  men,  that  handle  public  money,  either  for  civil 
or  military  service  ;  for  the  gridiron,  over  which  it  is  told,  often  enriches 
26* 


306  THE  INDEPENDENT  LEDGER. 

individuals  to  the  impoverishment  and  ruin  of  the  community.  Many 
think,  perhaps,  that  paper  money  is  not  so  apt  to  slip  through  as  dollars 
were ;  but  they  are  mistaken ;  some  men  can  double  their  money,  and 
slide  it  through  a  chink  where  a  dollar  would  not  enter. 

ATTENTION  !  —  to  the  form  of  government  you  may  adopt ;  for,  if 
you  do  not  look  to  that,  posterity  will  look  back  upon  you  with  curses, 
and  all  the  world  will  look  upon  you  as  a  pack  of  fools,  who  have  thrown 
away  the  fairest  opportunity,  which  any  people  ever  had  to  secure  their 
own  liberty  and  happiness.  Look  then,  that  rotation  in  office  be  not 
left  out  of  your  constitution.*  It  was  designedly  omitted  in  that,  lately 
proposed,  though  wisely  adopted  by  Congress,  and  almost  all  the  other 
states.  A  few  men,  continued  in  the  most  important  places,  for  a  suc 
cession  of  years,  may  so  extend  their  connections  and  influence,  as  to 
become  really,  though  not  openly,  masters  of  the  State. 

ATTENTION  !  —  to  the  accumulation  of  offices  on  one  man.  Nothing 
is  more  unreasonable  in  itself,  nothing  more  contrary  to  the  genius  of  a 
free  government,  than  that  one,  equally  well  qualified,  should  have  no 
public  employment,  while  others  have  more  than  they  can  properly 
attend  to.  In  the  last  case,  they,  who  confer  them,  want  wisdom;  they, 
who  accept  them,  want  modesty. 

ATTENTION!  —  to  the  army  of  your  enemies  in  every  quarter;  for,  be 
assured,  whether  you  watch  them  or  not,  they  watch  you,  and  would  be 
glad,  in  some  place  or  other,  to  catch  you  napping. 

ATTENTION  !  —  to  your  oivn  army,  that  it  be  well  filled  up ;  well  fed, 
well  clothed,  well  paid ;  and  then,  that  the  capable,  the  active,  the  brave, 
be  at  least  well  honored ;  and  the  incapable,  negligent,  and  cowardly,  be 
well  despised.  But  watch,  with  all  your  eyes,  that,  in  no  place,  and 
upon  no  occasion,  the  military  encroach  upon  the  civil  power. 

ATTENTION  !  —  to  your  naval  affairs,  and  in  what  manner  they  are 
conducted,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest  department.  Observe  with 
what  expedition  your  ships  are  fitted  out ;  when  they  sail :  with  what 
capacity  their  commanders  and  officers  behave ;  what  service  they  per 
form  in  proportion  to  their  force ;  and  what  public  rewards  and  punish 
ments  are  dispensed  according  to  their  different  behavior.  Let  those  be 
extolled  even  to  the  stars,  who  support  the  honor  of  your  flag,  your  new 
constellation,  the  thirteen  stars  ;  and  those,  who  stain  it,  be  overwhelmed 
with  confusion,  and  sink  into  darkness. 

ATTENTION!  —  to  your  commissaries  of  prisoners,  that  they  treat  the 
unfortunate  men  under  their  care  with  all  the  humanity  and  indulgence, 

*  Tins  was  written  while  the  Constitution  of  the  Comnion wealth  was  under 
consideration. 


DRAPER    AND    FOLSOM.  307 

consistent  with  the  public  safety,  and  no  more ;  that  the  prisoners,  we 
have,  be  faithfully  exchanged  for  the  redemption  of  our  brethren ;  that 
no  clandestine  trade  with  our  enemies  be  carried  on  in  our  flags,  &c.  and 
nothing  done,  that  may  wear  the  least  appearance  of  a  secret  bargain, 
between  a  British  officer,  tory  merchant,  or  mercenary  Whig,  and  an 
American  commissary. 

ATTENTION!  —  to  British  commissaries,  British  insinuations,  and 
British  arts ;  and  take  care  that  their  gold  be  not  more  fatal  to  you  than 
their  lead.  The  last  has  slain  its  thousands,  the  first  may  purchase 
chains  for  millions.  Observe  where  it  is  like  to  go ;  mark  its  effects  in 
every  order ;  and  let  the  sovereign  remedy  be  ever  kept,  a  wakeful 
attention  in  the  body  of  the  people.  No  people,  in  their  senses,  would  re 
fuse  a  good  peace ;  but,  take  care,  that,  in  the  shape  of  peace,  you  do 
not  embrace  the  most  miserable  bondage,  and  without  a  remedy. 

ATTENTION!  —  to  the  freedom  of  the  Press.  Some  people,  who 
have  talked  for  it,  who  have  wrote  for  it,  may,  upon  a  change  of  situa 
tion,  be  ready  to  wince  at  it.  This  shows  the  constant  necessity  for  it. 
Never  let  the  Press  be  over-awed,  either  by  public  or  private  persons. 
Only  let  truth  and  decency  be  preserved,  and  then,  my  Countrymen, 
speak  freely,  write  freely,  of  all  men  and  of  all  measures.  If  you  at 
tend  to  this,  and  some  other  things  I  have  hinted  at,  you  will  secure  all, 
that  is  worth  your  Attention.  BOB  CENTINEL. 

The  latest  number  of  this  paper,  which  I  have  seen 
is  dated  December  29,  1783.  Whether  it  was  con 
tinued  to  a  later  period  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain. 
No  notice  is  given  in  that  paper  of  any  proposed  dis 
continuance.  A  few  weeks  before  that  date,  the  name 
of  Draper  is  dropped  from  the  imprint,  and  the  remain 
ing  numbers  appear  in  the  name  of  John  W.  Folsom, 
only. 

Folsom  had  a  printing-office  and  bookstore  in  Union- 
street.  The  building  was  burned,  and  most  of  his 
property  destroyed  in  1797.  He  was  the  first  Secretary 
of  the  Massachusetts  Charitable  Mechanic  Association, 
and  some  time  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Health  in 
Boston. 


THE   CONTINENTAL   JOURNAL 

AND 

WEEKLY  ADVERTISER. 


THE  partnership  of  Edes  &  Gill  having  been  dissolved 
and  the  Boston  Gazette  remaining  the  property  of  Edes, 
Gill  began  the  publication  of  a  new  paper,  on  the  30th 
of  May,  1776,  under  the  title  of  the  Continental  Jour 
nal  and  Weekly  Advertiser.  In  a  brief  and  modest 
address  to  the  public,  he  said  he  had  complied  with  the 
solicitation  of  his  friends,  in  proposing  to  furnish  the 
public  with  a  newspaper  of  intelligence  every  Thursday, 
provided  it  should  meet  with  their  approbation  and  en 
couragement.  He  chose  "  to  omit  all  pompous  repre 
sentations  and  promises  respecting  his  intended  publica 
tion,  and  only  engaged  his  utmost  fidelity  in  collecting 
and  printing  the  newest  and  best  accounts  of  things 
that  could  be  obtained,  and  gratefully  to  accept  and 
insert  any  original  pieces  that  are  decent  and  worthy  the 
public  notice."  The  motto  of  the  paper  was  "  OX"  The 
entire  prosperity  of  every  state  depends  upon  the  disci 
pline  of  its  armies.  King  of  Prussia." 

In  the  way  of  news,  the  Journal  was  well  conducted. 
All  important  state  papers,  whether  emanating  from  the 
Continental  Congress,  or  from  state  conventions  and 


JOHN    GILL.  309 

legislatures,  were  promptly  laid  before  the  public. 
There  is  very  little  in  the  files  of  the  Journal,  that  ap 
pears  to  have  been  written  by  the  editor.  There  are 
numerous  original  communications,  such  as  the  public 
affairs  naturally  called  forth.  Useful  and  judicious  se 
lections  from  English  papers  and  books  were  often 
inserted.  The  whole  of  Robertson's  History  of  Amer 
ica  was  published  during  the  years  1784  and  1785. 
Gill  was  a  sound  Whig,  but,  it  was  said,  he  did  not 
possess  the  political  tact  and  energy,  that  characterized 
his  former  partner,  Edes,  and  which  had  raised  the  repu 
tation  of  the  Boston  Gazette.  He  was  industrious,  con 
stantly  in  the  printing-office  working  at  the  case  or  press, 
as  occasions  might  demand. 

JOHN  GILL  was  born  in  Charlestown,  served  a  regular 
apprenticeship  in  Boston  with  Samuel  Kneeland,  and 
married  one  of  Kneeland's  daughters.  He  was  a  brother 
of  Moses  Gill,  —  who,  after  the  Revolution,  was  several 
years  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Massachusetts.  When 
Edes  removed  to  Watertown,  during  the  siege,  —  as 
has  been  related,  —  Gill  remained  in  Boston,  but  "  did  no 
business,  and  thought  it  prudent  to  confine  himself  to  his 
own  house.  He  had,  fortunately,  acquired  a  competency 
for  the  support  of  his  family  under  that  trial."  He  con 
tinued  the  publication  of  the  Continental  Journal  till 
some  time  in  the  year  1785,  when  he  sold  the  right  of 
it  to  J.  D.  Griffith.  He  died  on  the  25th  of  August, 
1785.  The  Journal  which  announced  his  death,  says, 
— "  Capt.  John  Gill,  for  disseminating  principles  de 
structive  of  tyranny,  suffered  during  the  siege  of  this 
town,  in  1775,  what  many  other  printers  were  threat 
ened  with,  a  cruel  imprisonment.  He,  however,  was  so 


310  CONTINENTAL    JOURNAL. 

fortunate  as  to  survive  the  conflict  ;  but  had  the  mortifi 
cation,  lately,  of  seeing  the  press  ready  to  be  shackled 
by  a  stamp  act,  fabricated  in  his  native  state  ;  he,  there 
fore  resigned  his  business,  not  choosing  to  submit  to  a 
measure,  which  Britain  artfully  adopted  as  the  founda 
tion  of  her  intended  tyranny  in  America."  * 

In  one  of  the  early  numbers  of  the  Journal  is  a  Song, 
called  "  The  Soldier's  Sentimental  Toast,"  a  few  stan 
zas  of  which  are  annexed.  From  the  date,  it  may  be 
inferred  that  the  Song  was  taken  from  a  New-  York 
paper  :  — 

Come,  ye  valiant  Sons  of  Thunder, 

Crush  to  death  your  haughty  foes  ; 
Burst  their  slavish  bands  asunder, 

Till  no  Tory  dare  oppose. 

Haughty  tyrants  fain  would  rule  us, 

With  an  absolute  control  ; 
But  they  never  thus  shall  fool  us, 

Cries  the  brave,  the  martial  soul. 

'Tis  for  right  we  are  contending,  — 

Children,  sweethearts,  wives,  and  friends  ; 

And  our  holy  faith  defending 
From  delusion,  which  impends. 


O  the  happy  scene  before  us  ! 

Happy,  who  in  battle  dies  ! 
See  his  spirit  rise  victorious,  — 

Angels  guard  it  through  the  skies. 

*See  Thomas's  History  of  Printing,  vol.  i.  345.  The  only  file  of  the  Continental 
Journal,  that  I  have  seen,  is  in  the  library  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 
It  is  complete  to  the  end  of  the  year  1784,  and  contains  no  number  later  than  that 
date.  Whether  the  "  cruel  imprisonment,"  mentioned  in  the  extract  from  the 
Journal  means  any  thing  more  than  what  is  stated  by  Mr.  Thomas,  that  Gill 
"  thought  it  prudent  to  confine  himself  to  his  own  house,"  I  am  not  able  to  ascer 
tain. 


JOHN    GILL.  311 

Happy,  living,  —  happy,  dying — 

If  we  live,  our  rights  we  gain ; 
If  we  die,  our  souls,  when  flying, 

Fly  from  slavery,  grief,  and  pain. 

Shall  we  then  behave  like  dastards  ? 

Shall  we  yield  in  such  a  cause  ? 
To  be  duped  by  tyrants'  bastards  7 

No,  —  forbid  it,  Nature's  laws. 

No,  my  boys,  we  '11  act  like  heroes, 

Order,  right,  and  truth  maintain, 
And  convince  these  modern  Neroes 

That  we  '11  fight,  nor  fight  in  vain. 

So  we  shall  regain  our  freedom, 

And,  in  freedom,  freely  live  ; 
Grant  our  alms  to  those,  who  need  'em,  — 

What  is  right  we  '11  freely  give. 

To  conclude  — Let 's  fill  our  glasses,  — 

Drink  a  health  to  soldiers  brave  ; 
Leave  to  chains  those  impious  asses, 

Who  their  country  would  enslave. 

Health  to  every  valiant  soldier ; 

Health  to  those,  who  lead  their  bands  ; 
May  their  boldness,  waxing  bolder, 

Crush  their  foes  beneath  their  hands. 

New-York,  May  21,  1776. 

A  Poem,  written  by  Thomas  Dawes,  on  the  death  of 
Jarnes  Otis,  who  was  killed  by  lightning,  at  Andover,  in 
1783,  was  originally  published  in  the  Continental  Jour 
nal.  The  following  are  the  opening  and  concluding 
lines  of  this  Poem :  — 

When  flushed  with  conquest  and  elate  with  pride, 
Britannia's  monarch  Heaven's  high  will  defied, 
And,  bent  on  blood,  by  lust  of  rule  inclined 
With  odious  chains  to  vex  the  freeborn  mind,  — 
On  these  young  shores  set  up  unjust  command, 
And  spread  the  slaves  of  office  round  the  land  ; 


312  CONTINENTAL    JOURNAL. 

Then  OTIS  rose,  and,  great  in  patriot  fame, 
To  listening  crowds  resistance  dared  proclaim. 
From  soul  to  soul  the  bright  idea  ran, 
The  fire  of  freedom  flew  from  man  to  man  ; 
His  pen,  like  Sydney's,  made  the  doctrine  known, 
His  tongue,  like  Tully's  shook  a  tyrant's  throne : 
Then  men  grew  bold,  and,  in  the  public  eye, 
The  right  divine  of  monarchs  dared  to  try ; 
Light  shone  on  all,  despotic  darkness  fled, 

And,  for  a  sentiment*  a  nation  bled. 

^    #    %    %.    ^ 

Hark !  the  deep  thunders  echo  round  the  skies ! 
On  wings  of  flame  the  eternal  errand  flies ; 
One  chosen  charitable  bolt  is  sped, 
And  OTIS  mingles  with  the  glorious  dead. 

*  "  No  taxation  without  representation." 


THE   CONNECTICUT   JOURNAL, 


NEW-HAVEN  POST-BOY. 


THE  first  number  of  this  paper  was  published  in 
October,  1767,  by  Thomas  and  Samuel  Green,  and  was 
continued  by  them  till  February,  1799.  They  were 
grandsons  of  the  first  Timothy  Green  of  New-London, 
and  were  born  in  that  place.  In  1775,  the  second  title 
of  the  paper  was  dropped.  Samuel  Green  died  in 
1799,  and  the  publication  was  continued  by  Thomas 
Green  and  Son,  till  1809,  when  it  passed  into  the  posses 
sion  of  other  proprietors.  It  had  previously  undergone 
many  changes  in  size  and  typography ;  and  since  that 
period  has  changed  owners,  I  believe,  more  than  once, 
and,  in  size  and  mechanical  execution,  has  corresponded 
with  the  improvements  that  have  taken  place  in  cotem- 
porary  journals. 

A  few  numbers  of  this  paper  are  in  the  library  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society.  The  earliest  is  No. 
17,  dated  February  12,  1768:  and  the  latest  is  No. 
806,  April  10,  1783.  Some  of  these  fugitives  are  sheets 
smaller  than  common  letter-paper ;  others  are  respecta 
ble  demy.  That  it  was  not  a  source  of  great  wealth  to 
the  proprietors,  previous  to  the  Revolution,  may  be  con- 
27 


314  CONNECTICUT     JOURNAL. 

eluded  from  a  Notice,  in  the  paper  of  April  12,  1773, 
which  says,  —  "  The  Printers  are  sorry,  they  can  with 
truth  inform  the  public,  that  they  have  not,  for  this  year 
past,  received  from  all  the  customers  for  this  Journal,  so 
much  money  as  they  have  expended  for  the  blank  paper, 
on  which  it  has  been  printed ;  and  that  they  shall  be 
under  the  necessity  of  reducing  it  to  its  original  size  and 
price,  unless  subscribers  for  it  are  more  punctual  in  their 
payments.  The  next  week's  paper,  (No.  286,)  com 
pletes  one  year  since  its  enlargement,  and  to  which  time 
all  those,  who  are  indebted,  (whose  accounts  are  of  more 
than  one  year's  standing)  are  earnestly  requested  to  make 
immediate  payment  to  the  PRINTERS." 

From  the  small  number  of  the  papers  to  which  I  have 
had  access,  copious  extracts,  as  specimens  of  the  talent 
of  its  editor  and  contributors,  cannot  be  expected.  The 
editors  were  Whigs,  and  the  original  political  matter  is 
strongly  impregnated  with  whig  principle.  The  annexed 
Song  is  apparently  original :  — 

THE  EARLY  EISER. 

The  man,  who,  at  day-breaking,  breaks  off  his  rest, 
And,  in  spite  of  its  softness,  leaps  out  of  his  nest, 
Still  finds  to  his  comfort,  in  all  sorts  of  weather, 
His  head  clear  as  crystal,  his  heart  light  as  feather, 
Deny  down,  &c. 

If  the  clouds  be  dispersed,  and  th'  horizon  show  fair, 
With  what  pleasure  abroad  he  breathes  the  fresh  air ! 
But  if  rainy  or  dull,  how  sincere  his  enjoyment 
In  following,  at  home,  his  lawful  employment ! 

When  breakfast  time  comes,  you  may  see  him  at  board, 

Regaling  on  whate'er  his  house  will  afford; 

For  nought  to  his  stomach  goes  ever  amiss, 

Be  it  roast,  baked,  or  boiled,  or  fowl,  flesh,  or  fish. 


CONNECTICUT     JOURNAL.  315 

"With  choicest  of  all  earthly  blessings  abounding, 
A  soundness  of  body,  a  mind  that  is  sound  in, 
Through  life's  shifting  scenes,  whether  serious  or  gay, 
His  part  of  the  drama  he  with  spirit  can  play. 

No  sickness  comes  near  him,  nor  vapor,  nor  spleen, 
With  nights  all  refreshing,  with  days  all  serene, 
His  years  roll  along  as  a  still  summer  wave, 
Till,  like  well-ripened  fruit,  he  drops  into  the  grave. 


THE  NEW-LONDON   GAZETTE. 


THIS  was  the  second  paper  printed  in  New-London, 
and  was  first  issued  in  November,  1763.  The  printer 
was  Timothy  Green,  the  third  printer  of  that  name  in 
that  place.  It  was  a  sheet  of  the  foolscap  size,  four 
pages,  folio.  At  first  it  had  a  cut  of  the  king's  arms  at 
the  head;  but  this  was  banished  in  December,  1773, 
and  the  title  was  altered  to  Connecticut  Gazette.  Thirty 
years  after  its  first  appearance,  the  paper  was  enlarged 
to  a  royal  sheet ;  and  about  the  same  time,  its  original 
proprietor  resigned  it  to  the  hands  of  his  son,  Samuel 
Green,  in  whose  possession  it  remained  for  many  years. 

My  earliest  recollections  of  newspapers  are  those  of 
the  Connecticut  Gazette.  It  was  in  that  paper  that  I 
first  saw  the  picture  of  a  ship,  and  that  was  one  which 
stood  at  the  head  of  Allen's  Marine  List.  There  I 
read  the  debates  on  the  Federal  Constitution,  the  ac 
counts  of  Shays's  Rebellion,  the  beginning  of  the  French 
Revolution,  and  the  beheading  of  Louis  XVI.  But  that, 
which  made  the  strongest  and  ineffaceable  impression, 
was  the  trial  of  Warren  Hastings,  and  the  narration  of  the 
atrocities  he  perpetrated  in  India.  The  remonstrance  of 
the  wife  -of  Almas  Ali  Cawn,  addressed  to  that  robber 
and  murderer,  had  a  most  powerful  effect  on  my  imagina 
tion,  and  a  term  of  more  than  sixty  years  is  not  suffi 
cient  to  wear  it  out. 


TIMOTHY    GREEN.  317 

Some  good  writers  appear  to  have  aided  in  conducting 
the  Gazette,  during  the  years  that  preceded  the  passage 
of  the  Stamp  Act,  and  the  progress  of  the  Revolution. 
One  of  their  communications  here  follows,  published  in 
1765  :  - 

....   Quid  non  Mortalia  Pectora  cogis 
Auri  sacra  Fames.  VIRGIL. 

Since  the  late  Impositions  on  the  American  Colonies  by  the  Parlia 
ment  of  Great-Britain,  our  Papers  have  been  filled  with  woeful  Ex 
clamations  against  Slavery  and  arbitrary  power.  One  would  have 
thought,  by  this  mighty  outcry,  that  all  America,  to  a  Man,  had  a  noble 
Sense  of  Freedom,  and  would  risque  their  Lives  and  Fortunes  in  the 
Defence  of  it.  Had  this  been  really  the  Spirit  of  the  Colonies,  they 
would  have  deserved  Commiseration  and  Relief. 

Nothing  can  fill  a  generous  Breast  with  greater  Indignation  than  to 
see  a  free,  brave,  and  virtuous  People  unjustly  sunk  and  debased  by 
Tyranny  and  Oppression.  But  who  can  pity  the  heartless  Wretches 
whose  only  Fortitude  is  in  the  Tongue  and  Pen  ?  If  we  may  judge  of 
the  whole  by  those  who  have  been  already  tampered  with,  the  Colonies 
are  now  ripe  for  Slavery  and  incapable  of  freedom. 

Have  three  hundred  Pounds  a  Year,  or  even  a  more  trifling  Consid 
eration,  been  found  sufficient  to  debauch  from  their  Interest  those  who 
have  been  intrusted  with  the  most  important  Concerns  by  the  Colonies  ? 
If  so,  O  Britain !  heap  on  your  Burthens  without  Fear  of  Disturbance. 
We  shall  bear  your  Yoke  as  tamely  as  the  overloaded  Ass.  If  we 
bray  with  the  Pain,  we  shall  not  have  the  Heart  to  throw  off  the  Load, 
or  spurn  the  Rider.  Have  many  already  become  the  Tools  of  your 
Oppression  ?  and  are  Numbers  now  cringing  to  become  the  Tools  of 
those  Tools,  to  slay  their  wretched  Brethren?  'Tis  impossible! 
But  alas !  if  so,  who  could  have  thought  it !  ....  Those  who 
lately  set  themselves  up  for  Patriots  and  boasted  a  generous  Love 
for  their  Country,  are  they  now  suing  (O  Disgrace  to  humanity!) 
are  THEY  now  creeping  after  the  Profits  of  collecting  the  Un 
righteous  American  Stamp  Duty !  If  THIS  is  credible,  what  may  we  not 
believe  ?  Where  are  the  Mercenary  Publicans  who  delight  in  Nothing 
so  much  as  the  dearest  Blood  of  their  Country  ?  Will  the  Cries  of 
your  despairing,  dying  Brethren  be  Music  pleasing  to  your  Ears  ?  If 
so,  go  on,  bend  the  Knee  to  your  Master  Horseleach,  and  beg  a  share 
in  the  Pillage  of  your  Country.  —  No,  you'll  say,  I  don't  delight  in  the 
Ruin  of  my  Country,  but,  since  'tis  decreed  she  must  Jail,  who  can  blame  me 
for  taking  a  Part  in  the  Plunder  ?  Tenderly  said !  why  did  you  not 
27* 


318  NEW -LONDON  GAZETTE. 

rather  say,  —  If  my  father  must  die,  who  can  accuse  me  as  defective  in  filial 
Duty,  in  becoming  his  Executioner,  that  so  much  of  the  Estate,  at  least,  as 
goes  to  the  Hangman,  may  be  retained  in  the  Family. 

Never  pretend,  whoever  you  are,  that  freely  undertake  to  put  in  Exe 
cution  a  Law  prejudicial  to  your  Country ,  that  you  have  the  least  Spark 
of  Affection  for  her.  Rather  own  you  would  gladly  see  her  in  Flames, 
if  you  might  be  allowed  to  pillage  with  Impunity. 

But  had  you  not  rather  these  Duties  should  be  collected  by  your  Brethren, 
than  by  Foreigners  ?  No !  vile  Miscreant !  indeed  we  had  not.  The 
same  rapacious  and  base  Spirit  which  prompted  you  to  undertake  the 
ignominious  Task,  will  urge  you  on  to  every  cruel  and  oppressive  Mea 
sure.  You  will  serve  to  put  us  continually  in  Mind  of  our  abject  Con 
dition.  A  Foreigner  we  could  more  cheerfully  endure,  because  he 
might  be  supposed  not  to  feel  our  Distresses ;  but  for  one  of  our 
Fellow  Slaves,  who  equally  shares  in  our  Pains,  to  rise  up  and  beg  the 
Favour  of  inflicting  them,  is  intolerable.  The  only  Advantage  that 
can  be  hoped  for  from  this  is,  that  it  will  rouse  the  most  indolent  of  us 
to  a  Sense  of  our  Slavery,  and  make  us  use  our  strongest  Efforts  to  be 
free.  Some,  I  hope  there  are,  notwithstanding  your  base  Defection, 
that  feel  the  Patriotic  Flame,  glowing  in  their  Bosoms,  and  would 
esteem  it  glorious  to  die  for  their  country !  From  such  as  these  you  are 
to  expect  perpetual  Opposition.  These  are  Men  whose  Existence  and 
Importance  does  not  depend  on  Gold.  "When,  therefore,  you  have  pil 
laged  from  them  their  Estates,  they  will  still  live  and  blast  your  wicked 
Designs,  by  all  lawful  Means.  You  are  to  look  for  Nothing  but  the 
Hatred  and  Detestation  of  all  the  Good  and  Virtuous.  And  as  you 
live  on  the  Distresses,  you  will  inherit  the  Curses  of  Widows  and  Or 
phans.  The  present  Generation  will  treat  you  as  the  Authors  of  their 
Misery,  and  Posterity  will  pursue  your  Memory  with  the  most  terrible 
Imprecations.  CATO. 

There  "is  a  small  collection  of  stray  numbers  of  the 
Connecticut  Gazette  in  the  library  of  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society,  reaching  from  its  beginning  to  1783. 
They  are  all  in  one  volume.  They  are  chiefly  filled 
with  communications  in  favor  of  the  freedom  of  the 
country  from  British  misrule,  —  many  of  them  original, 
and  many  from  the  Boston  Gazette,  and  other  whig 
journals.  The  editor  appears  to  have  taken  great  inter 
est  in  all  the  patriotic  proceedings  in  Massachusetts,  and 


TIMOTHY    GREEN.  319 

to  have  felt  much  sympathy  with  the  Bostonians  during 
the  Siege  of  their  town  by  the  British  army.  The  Song 
annexed  appeared  as  original  in  the  Gazette  of  February 
23,  1776.  The  sentiment  is  a  sufficient  apology  for  the 
defects  in  the  poetry  :  — 

Smile,  Massachusetts,  smile ; 

Thy  virtue  still  outbraves 

The  frowns  of  Britain's  isle, 

And  rage  of  home-born  slaves. 
Thy  free-born  sons  disdain  their  ease, 
When  purchased  by  their  liberties. 

Thy  Genius,  once  the  pride 

Of  Britain's  ancient  isle. 

Brought  o'er  the  raging  tide, 

By  our  forefather's  toil ; 
In  spite  of  N — th's  despotic  power, 
Shines  glorious  on  this  western  shore. 

In  Hancock's  generous  mind 

Awakes  the  noble  strife, 

Which  so  conspicuous  shined 

In  gallant  Sydney's  life : 
While  in  its  cause  the  hero  bled, 
Immortal  honors  crowned  his  head. 

Let  zeal  your  breasts  inspire ; 

Let  wisdom  guide  your  plans  ; 

'Tis  not  your  cause  entire 

On  doubtful  conflict  hangs  : 
The  fate  of  this  vast  continent, 
And  unborn  millions  share  th'  event. 

To  close  the  gloomy  scenes 

Of  this  alarming  day, 

A  happy  union  reigns 

Through  wide  America, 
While  awful  Wisdom  hourly  waits 
To  adorn  the  councils  of  her  states. 

Brave  Washington  arrives, 

Arrayed  in  warlike  fame ;  — 

(While  in  his  soul  revives 

Great  Marlboro's  martial  flame  ; ) 


320  NEW-LONDON    GAZETTE. 

To  lead  your  conquering  armies  on 
To  lasting  glory  and  renown. 
To  aid  the  glorious  cause 
Experienced  Lee  is  come, 
Renowned  in  foreign  wars, 
A  patriot  at  home. 

While  valiant  Putnam's  warlike  deeds 
Amongst  the  foe  a  terror  spreads. 
Let  Britons  proudly  boast 
"  That  their  two  thousand  slaves 
Can  drive  our  numerous  host 
And  make  us  all  their  slaves." 
While  twice  six  thousand  quake  with  fear, 
Nor  dare  without  their  lines  appear. 
Kind  Heaven  has  deigned  to  own 
Our  bold  resistance  just  j 
Since  murderous  G — e  begun 
The  bloody  carnage  first, 
Near  ten  to  one  has  been  their  cost, 
For  each  American  we  Ve  lost. 
Stand  firm  in  your  defence, 
Like  Sons  of  Freedom  fight : 
Your  haughty  foes  convince 
That  you  '11  maintain  your  right. 
Defiance  bid  to  tyrant's  frown, 
And  glory  will  your  valor  crown. 


THE   HERALD   OF  FREEDOM, 

AND    THE 

FEDERAL  ADVERTISER. 


ON  the  fifteenth  of  September,  1788,  EDMUND  FREE 
MAN  and  LORING  ANDREWS,  issued  a  paper  in  Boston, 
with  the  title  recited  above.  It  was  published  twice  a 
week,  on  Monday  and  Thursday.  In  the  centre  of  the 
head  was  a  cut,  on  which  Justice,  Wisdom,  Liberty,  and 
Fortitude  were  represented  by  four  standing  figures,  each 
holding  its  appropriate  emblem.  The  first  number  con 
tains  no  exposition  of  the  editor's  principles,  nor  any 
notice  of  the  intended  mode  of  publication.  The  second 
number  has  a  note  of  five  or  six  lines,  containing  a  re 
quest  of  "  such  of  their  patrons,  as  can  make  it  con 
venient,  to  advance  a  quarter  or  half  a  year's  pay  ;  —  if 
they  can  do  this,  without  detriment  to  themselves,  they 
will  confer  a  great  obligation  on  the  editors."  The 
paper  was  well  supplied  with  original  communications, 
on  morals  and  manners,  religion  and  politics.  It  was 
the  intention  of  the  editors  that  it  should  be  an  impartial 
journal,  and  their  intention  seems  to  have  been  perma 
nently  adhered  to.  Political  affairs  were  discussed  with 
freedom,  by  their  correspondents  ;  and  so  far  as  the  pri 
vate  views  of  the  editors  are  developed,  there  is  no 


322  THE  HERALD  OF  FREEDOM. 

indication  of  strong  personal  prejudices  or  affections  in 
regard  to  candidates  for  political  offices.  The  editorial 
paragraphs,  —  quite  numerous,  but  always  brief,  —  are 
more  in  the  style  of  a  scholar  than  those  of  most  of  the 
cotemporary  papers. 

In  the  political  contest,  which  took  place  just  before 
the  annual  election  of  Governor,  in  1788,  between  the 
friends  of  Hancock  and  Bowdoin,  the  rival  candidates, 
most  of  the  writers  for  the  Herald  were  in  favor  of  Han 
cock.  "  Laco,"  a  writer  in  the  Centinel,  who  had  attacked 
him  with  some  acrimony  of  temper,  was  treated  by  them 
with  little  courtesy  ;  and  the  editor  of  the  Centinel 
carne  in  for  a  share  of  their  rebuke,  for  the  indulgence 
he  had  shown  to  his  correspondent.  He  and  they  were 
lampooned  after  this  fashion  :  — 

To  the  Public,  and  All  whom  it  may  Concern. 

Whereas,  WE,  Laco  &  Company,  alias,  S H ,  T 

P ,  and  J W ,*  have  undertaken  to  vilify  the  charac 
ter  of  Mr.  H. ;  though,  in  the  beginning,  our  materials  consisted  of  a 
large  number  of  lies,  vulgar  epithets,  and  abusive  language,  yet  they 
are  all  expended ;  "  WE,"  with  all  our  ingenuity  and  invention,  can 
not  find  wherewith  to  proceed :  —  "  We  "  hereby  promise  to  reward  any 
person  or  persons,  who  can  supply  us  with  any  or  all  of  them — the 
more  infamous  and  notorious  they  are,  the  larger  will  be  the  gratuity 

—  for  further  particulars,  inquire  of  our  trusty  and  well-beloved  S 

H ,  in  Federal-street,  where  they  will  be  thankfully  received,  or 

of  the  "  uninfluenced  "  and  impartial  Editor  of  the  Centinel,  at  the  head 
of  Black  Sam's  Alley.  LACO  &  Co. 

Some  of  the  articles  in  defence  of  Hancock,  against 
the  charges,  and  innuendoes  of  the  correspondents  of 
the  Centinel,  were  written  in  a  more  dignified  manner. 

A  series  of  essays  appeared  in  this  paper,  under  the 

*  Stephen  Higginson,  Theophilus  Parsons,  and  James  Warren,  were  supposed  to 
be  the  writers  against  Governor  Hancock  in  the  Centinel. 


FREEMAN  AND  ANDREWS.  323 

title  of  "  How  to  make  an  Apple  Pudding,  being  a 
curious,  elaborate,  and  sublime  Dissertation,  never  before 
published,  by  Yankee  Doodle,  Esq."  The  aim  of  the 
writer  appears  to  have  been  to  satirize  some  of  the  pre 
vailing  follies  of  the  time ;  but  the  pungency  of  his  sat 
ire  has  been  lost  with  the  knowledge  of  its  subjects.  In 
one  of  the  early  numbers  are  two  or  three  letters,  said 
to  have  been  written  by  a  young  lady,  who,  not  long 
before,  had  committed  suicide,  under  circumstances, 
which  produced  intense  agitation  in  the  fashionable  cir 
cles  of  Boston,  and  which  laid  the  foundation  of  a  novel 
entitled  "  The  Power  of  Sympathy,  or  the  Triumph  of 
Nature."  This  "novel  founded  in  truth,"  was  no 
sooner  announced  as  published,  than  an  attempt  was 
made  to  suppress  it,  by  purchasing  and  destroying  all 
the  copies  that  could  be  found.  Few,  if  any,  are  now 
in  existence. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  year,  the  name  of  Loring  An 
drews  disappeared  in  the  imprint  of  the  Herald,  and  the 
publication  was  carried  on  by  Edmund  Freeman  alone. 

In  February,  1790,  the  following  article  appeared  in 
the  Herald :  — 

From  a  Correspondent. 

"  While  the  curiosity  of  the  public  is  excited  by  the  professed  reform 
ation  in  the  law  practice,  —  while  the  enemies  of  the  lawyers  wait 
with  anxious  expectation  the  result,  —  it  may  not  be  improper  to  turn 
our  attention  to  the  character  of  the  gentleman  from  whom  the  pro 
fessed  reformation  originates.  The  tongue  is  an  unruly  evil,  full  of 
deadly  poison ;  it  cannot  be  tamed  ;  it  sets  on  fire  the  whole  course  of 
nature,  and  is  "  set  on  fire  of  hell."  This  saying  of  the  Apostle  James, 
is  peculiarly  applicable  to  this  gentleman,  the  virulence  of  whose  tongue 
none  can  escape,  no,  not  even  the  dead.  His  malicious  disposition  is 
such,  that  he  cannot  pass  in  silence  the  memory  of  his  deceased  father, 
but  treats  his  character  with  such  abusive  and  scurrilous  language,  as 


324          THE  HERALD  OF  FREEDOM. 

would  strike  even  a  savage  with  horror  and  amazement.  A  wife  mur 
dered  by  his  cruelty,  receives  not  a  tear  from  his  humanity ;  and  even 
her  friends,  who  are  supposed  to  mourn  her  loss,  are  the  subjects  of  his 
unnatural  and  inhuman  reflections.  A  daughter,  whose  innocence  and 
modest  appearance,  one  would  think,  were  sufficient  to  disarm  a  ruffian, 
and  arrest  from  the  most  virulent  tongue  its  stings,  cannot  escape  his  bar 
barity  ;  but  even  in  company,  and  before  strangers,  receives  from  her  un 
natural  father  such  odious  and  shocking  epithets,  as  would  hardly  be 
thought  to  proceed  from  the  mouth  of  a  madman.  His  turbulent  temper 
knows  no  rest ;  troubles  and  tempests  have  attended  him  wherever  he  has 
resided ;  and  indeed  it  is  impossible  in  any  place,  which  is  so  unfortunate 
as  to  have  him  for  an  inhabitant,  to  be  at  peace.  Prejudice,  upon  which 
he  has  expatiated  so  largely,  never  appeared  in  a  greater  degree  or  more 
striking  manner,  than  in  this  man.  Prejudice  against  quietness  and  peace 
—  prejudice  against  sobriety  and  temperance  —  prejudice  against  every 
one,  who  appears  to  differ  from  him  in  his  opinion,  who  opposes  his 
injudicious  schemes,  or  who  stands  in  the  way  of  his  importance ;  in 
short,  prejudice  against  every  body  and  every  thing,  that  is  good,  and 
in  favor  of  every  thing  that  is  bad.  His  prejudice  is  likewise  very  liable 
to  change.  While  in  Europe  and  St.  Kitt's,  we  may,  from  his  present 
conduct,  fairly  conclude,  that  his  prejudice  was  very  violent  against 
New-England,  and  as  violent  in  favor  of  Old-England,  or  rather  West- 
India.  Immediately  upon  his  arrival  in  America,  we  find  all  his  praise 
lavished  upon  the  former,  and  nothing  belonging  to  the  latter  escaped 
his  virulence.  His  whole  soul  is  so  bound  up  in  New-England,  that  he 
keeps  it  in  his  head,  and  at  his  side,  by  night  and  by  day,  and  not  a  mo 
ment  are  his  thoughts  turned  from  it  to  the  cont^nplation  of  other  ob 
jects.  Even  on  the  Lord's  Day,  his  God  receives  no  part  of  his  adora 
tion,  but  the  spirit  of  New-England  rises  so  high  as  to  remove  the  centre 
of  gravity ;  and,  as  second  cousin  to  the  Elect  Lady,  the  iniquities  of  his 
brethren  and  grievances  of  the  people  stream  from  his  mouth,  in  plenti 
ful  effusion.  This,  my  fellow-citizens,  is  the  man,  who  proposed  to  alter 
the  present  method  of  Law  Practice,  and  redress  your  grievances. 
Can  you  bring  a  clean  thing  out  of  an  unclean  ?  Can  the  fig-tree  bear 
olive  berries,  or  the  vine  figs  ?  So  neither  can  the  same  fountain  send 
forth  salt  water  and  fresh.  Whoso  curseth  his  father,  his  lamp  shall  be 
put  out  in  utter  darkness ! 

I  shall  make  no  apology  for  this  piece ;  the  gentleman  himself  has 
told  us,  that  a  reverence  for  the  dead  ought  not  to  tie  the  tongue,  nor 
ought  the  pen  of  the  historian ;  and  certainly  a  reverence  for  the  charac 
ter  of  the  living,  who  have  rendered  themselves  infamous  by  their  con 
duct,  ought  not  to  have  this  effect. 


EDMUND    FREEMAN.  325 

Very  soon  after  the  appearance  of  this  article,  John 
Gardiner,  a  representative  in  the  Legislature,  from  the 
town  of  Pownalborough,  entered  a  complaint  against 
Freeman  for  the  publication  of  a  libel,  and  a  warrant  for 
his  arrest  was  granted  by  Thomas  Crafts,  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  Gardiner,  on  his  part,  conducted  the  examina 
tion  himself.  Harrison  G.  Otis  and  R.  G.  Amory  were 
counsel  for  Freeman.  He  was  bound  in  a  penalty  of 
two  hundred  pounds,  with  two  sureties  in  one  hundred 
pounds  each,  for  his  appearance  at  the  next  term  of  the 
Supreme  Court.  Gardiner  recognized  in  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  pounds,  to  appear  and  prosecute  his  complaint 
at  the  same  court. 

The  trial  came  on  in  February,  1791.  Gardiner 
asked  leave  of  the  court  to  assist  the  attorney-general 
in  the  management  of  the  prosecution.  The  attorney- 
general,  —  James  Sullivan,  Esq.  —  said  he  thought  the 
request  a  very  improper  one.  He  was,  himself,  the 
common  medium  of  all  prosecutions  on  the  part  of  the 
government,  and  the  present  case  was  the  first  of  the 
hind,  which  had  happened  in  this  country.  It  was  an 
arduous  and  difficult  task  to  draw  the  proper  line  between 
the  liberty  and  the  licentiousness  of  the  press.  It  was  a 
matter  of  vast  importance,  in  which  the  government,  as 
well  as  every  class  of  citizens,  was  concerned.  He  was 
appointed  by  the  government  to  conduct  all  causes,  in 
which  the  commonwealth  was  concerned ;  and,  as  this 
was  such  a  cause,  he  should  not  commit  the  manage 
ment  of  it  to  Mr.  Gardiner,  or  any  other  man.  Gardiner 
still  urged  his  request;  but  after  consultation,  the  court 
determined  to  proceed  in  the  usual  manner,  and  directed 
the  attorney-general  to  go  on  with  the  prosecution. 

VOL.   i.  28 


326  HERALD    OF    FREEDOM. 

The  fact  of  the  publication  by  Freeman  was  proved 
by  witnesses,  who  bought  the  paper.  Two  witnesses 
testified  that  they  went  to  Freeman's  office  with  Gardiner, 
who  accosted  the  printer,  in  substance  thus: — "  How 
dared  you,  Sir,  to  assert  in  your  paper  of  yesterday,  that 
I  had  murdered  the  most  excellent  woman  that  ever 
lived  ?  "  That  the  printer  replied,  —  "I  do  not  know 
that  I  did  any  such  thing."  That  Gardiner  then  read 
to  the  printer  the  supposed  libel,  particularly  that  part 
where  it  says,  '  a  wife  murdered  by  his  cruelty,'  fee.  and 
asked,  "  Pray  Sir,  what  did  you  mean  by  murdered  by 
my  cruelty  1 "  "  I  suppose,"  said  the  printer,  "  by  your 
severe  usage.  It  was  brought  to  me  by  a  person  about 
twenty-five  or  twenty-six  years  of  age,  —  whom  I  told, 
if  I  was  called  upon,  I  must  look  to,  and  through  him 
trace  up  the  author.  I  don't  say  he  was  the  author." 
Gardiner  then  said  he  would  trace  up  the  author,  if  possi 
ble,  and  see  the  infamous  villain  in  the  pillory. 

Two  witnesses  were  examined  for  the  defence.  One 
of  them  testified,  That  Gardiner  told  Freeman,  when  he 
applied  to  him  for  one  of  his  speeches,  that  "  he  had 
given  Mr.  Russell,  the  printer  of  the  Centinel,  the  ex- 
elusive  privilege  of  printing  all  his  observations,  refer 
ences,  &c.  as  delivered  by  him  in  the  Legislature,  upon 
the  express  condition  that  he  should  publish  every  thing 
that  came  from  the  Hack  birds,  however  smutty  it  might 
be,  against  the  man  and  the  measures."  Another  testified, 
"  That  Gardiner  told  him,  that  he  had  engaged  all  his 
speeches  and  writings  to  the  printer  of  the  Centinel,  upon 
condition  that  he  published  every  thing,  which  might  be 
brought  against  him." 


JOHN    HOWELL.  327 

This  trial,  —  the  first  trial  for  a  libel  in  the  courts  of 
Massachusetts,  —  was  pretty  fully  reported  in  the  Inde 
pendent  Chronicle,  where  the  reader,  who  wishes  to  see 
the  arguments  of  the  attorney-general  for  the  prosecution, 
and  of  Messrs.  Otis  and  Arnory  for  the  defendant, 
together  with  the  charge  of  the  Chief  Justice,  may  find 
them.  The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict,  —  NOT  GUILTY. 

About  two  months  after  this  trial,  Freeman  took  leave 
of  the  public,  in  a  very  brief  acknowledgement  for  favors 
received,  and  stating  that  the  right  and  title  of  the  pa 
per  were  transferred  to  John  Howell,  whom  he  recom 
mended  as  worthy  of  support.  Howell  began  his  career 
with  a  suitable  address,  in  which  he  said,  —  "  The  mean, 
through  which  the  editor  will  seek  the  flattering  reward 
of  public  approbation,  will  be  — preserving  inviolate  the 
laws  of  decency  and  truth  —  exercising  the  fullest 
impartiality  and  most  extensive  candor —  and  sedulously 
gleaning,  from  the  fruitful  harvest  of  Politics  and  Com 
merce,  the  earliest,  most  interesting,  and  best  authenticat 
ed  intelligence."  In  just  three  months,  Howell  pub 
lished  his  intention  of  changing  the  name  of  his  paper, 
in  the  following  nonsensical  and  bombastical  language  :  — 

The  Herald  of  Freedom,  conscious  that  she  is  now  but  dust,  and 
feeling  her  dissolution  daily  approaching,  hereby  declares,  that  she  dies 
literally  from  a  typical  disease ;  and  though  she  must  submit,  in  common 
with  the  element  of  which  she  is  composed,  to  the  general  laws  of  mor. 
tality,  yet  for  a  few  days  she  sleeps  in  hope  of  a  joyful  resurrection ; 
the  fruition  of  which  shall  clothe  her  in  the  bright  and  stable  rays  of 
information,  entertainment,  and  intelligence. 

The  trance  of  business,  like  that  of  life,  though  it  may  suspend 
awhile  the  operations  of  her  activity,  yet  by  opening  a  second  morning 
to  her  being,  will  discover  new  objects  of  interest,  pursuit,  and  ambi 
tion  ;  and,  like  the  benighted  traveler,  who,  having  passed  the  rocks, 
waves,  and  precipices  of  life  without  a  guide,  will  secure  herself  in  the 
haven,  where  industry  and  attention  can  alone  rind  rest. 


328  HERALD    OF    FREEDOM. 

The  public  are  now  respectfully  informed,  that  This  Paper  will  DIE 
TO-DAY,  and  that,  on  Eriday  next,  like  the  Phoenix  from  her  ashes,  will 
arise  the  ARGUS,  to  view  with  his  hundred  eyes,  the  literary,  political, 
commercial,  and  agricultural  interests  of  this  great  western  hemi 
sphere.  Thus,  various  as  his  attentions,  will,  we  trust,  be  the  faculties  of 
his  entertainment;  and  having  already  so  liberally  experienced  the 
patronage  of  a  discerning  public,  under  another  name,  will  in  future  be 
as  sedulous  in  his  endeavors  of  merit,  as  they  have  already  been  liberal 
in  the  bounties  of  bestowing  it. 

The  paper,  which  contained  this  absurd  attempt  at 
fine  writing,  was,  of  course,  the  last  number  of  the 
Herald  of  Freedom.  A  paper  called  the  Argus,  was 
afterwards  published  by  Edward  Eveleth  Powars,  but 
whether  Howell  was  connected  with  it  or  not,  does  not 
appear  from  any  of  the  numbers,  which  I  have  seen. 

EDMUND  FREEMAN,  one  of  the  first  publishers  of  the 
Herald  of  Freedom,  was  a  native  of  Sandwich,  Mass. 
and  was  educated  a  printer.  After  he  relinquished  the 
publication  of  this  paper  he  was  connected  with  a  maga 
zine,  and,  I  believe,  with  another  newspaper,  in  Boston. 

LORING  ANDREWS  was  a  native  of  Hingham,  Mass. 
and  was  also  bred  to  the  printing  business.  After  he 
left  Freeman,  he  published  a  paper  at  Stockbridge,  in  the 
county  of  Berkshire,  called  the  Western  Star.  At  one 
time  he  was  editor  of  the  Albany  Centinel,  and  was 
printer  to  the  state.  Subsequently  he  went  to  Charleston, 
S.  C.  and  there  established  the  Charleston  Courier.  He 
died  in  that  city,  about  the  year  1807. 


THE   HAMPSHIRE    GAZETTE. 


By  the  advice  and  encouragement  of  a  number  of 
gentlemen  of  Hampshire  county,  William  Butler  set  up 
a  printing-office  in  Northampton,  and  issued  the  first 
number  of  the  Hampshire  Gazette,  on  the  sixth  of  Sep 
tember,  1786.  It  was  while  the  insurgent  Shays  and 
his  companions,  Day,  Parsons,  and  others,  were  doing 
their  utmost  to  stop  the  operations  of  the  courts  of  jus 
tice  in  Massachusetts.  Conventions  had  been  held  at 
sundry  places  in  the  county,  at  which  resolutions,  ex 
pressing  the  supposed  grievances  of  the  people,  had 
been  adopted.  A  convention  at  Hatfield  was  composed 
of  delegates  from  fifty  towns.  This  convention  issued 
a  manifesto,  in  which  seventeen  distinct  articles  stated  as 
many  causes  of  dissatisfaction.  A  paper  was  printed  at 
Springfield ;  but  the  county  then  stretched  across  the 
state  from  north  to  south,  and  intelligence,  by  means  of 
the  press,  was  not  very  rapidly  communicated.  To  sup 
ply  this  deficiency,  and  to  support  the  government 
against  the  insurrectionary  plans  of  Shays  and  his  associ 
ates,  was  the  chief  motive,  that  led  to  the  establishment 
of  the  Hampshire  Gazette.  Among  the  writers,  who 
immediately  came  forward  in  opposition  to  the  insurgents, 
were  the  Rev.  Joseph  Lyman,  of  Hatfield,  who  wrote 
a  series  of  articles,  signed  "  An  Old  Republican,"  and 
28* 


330  HAMPSHIRE    GAZETTE. 

Caleb  Strong,  of  Northampton.  The  venerable  Major 
Hawley,  then  near  the  close  of  life,  was  also  a  contribu 
tor.  These,  with  others  less  known,  kept  the  Gazette, 
for  some  time,  nearly  filled  with  articles,  the  object  of 
which  was  to  allay  popular  excitement,  by  exposing  the 
schemes  of  demagogues,  and  recommending  more  peace 
ful  measures  to  procure  the  redress  of  grievances. 

I  am  not  able  to  identify  the  communications  of  Ca 
leb  Strong ;  but  there  are  many  essays  in  the  Gazette, 
which  for  political  wisdom,  sound  morals,  and  irrefutable 
argument,  are  worthy  of  his  pen,  and  would  not  discredit 
his  fame  as  a  patriot,  a  statesman,  a  lawyer,  or  a 
Christian.  Dr.  Lyman  wrote,  as  he  always  preached, 
with  great  plainness  and  simplicity,  and  often  with  elo 
quence.  In  one  of  his  essays,  he  closes  his  argument 
against  rnobs,  in  the  language,  which  follows,  after  quot 
ing  an  appropriate  passage  of  scripture  concerning  "  the 
flying  roll  "  :  — 

Leaving  this  divine  denunciation  to  the  sober  reflection  of  those  mili 
tary  oflicers,  who  were  active  in  the  late  tumult,  let  me  observe,  that 
mobs  never  did  any  good  to  the  cause  which  they  intended  to  support. 
Their  natural  operation  is  to  make  the  hand  of  power  more  weighty 
and  severe  ;  when  continued,  they  produce  perplexities  arid  animosities 
among  friends  and  brethren ;  they  raise  sad  contentions ;  they  frequently 
issue  in  bloodshed,  and  murder,  and  executions.  When  most  success 
ful,  the  page  of  history  tells  us,  that  popular  insurrections,  after  lament 
able  devastation,  end  in  the  utter  subversion  of  the  people's  liberties,  and 
the  bloody  tyranny  of  one  man,  —  an  event,  by  which  the  whole  com 
munity  is  rendered  certainly  and  irretrievably  wretched.  But,  resting 
upon  the  divine  compassion,  we  presage  more  joyful  events  for  a  peo 
ple,  although  ungrateful,  whom  he  can  so  easily  fit  for  his  astonishing 
goodness.  Tokens  for  good  do  even  now  daily  arise.  The  people  be 
gin  to  l)e  sensible  of  their  privileges  and  happj^  security  under  the  gov 
ernment.  I  see  the  honest,  the  brave,  the  stable  yeomanry  of  this 
ancient  and  large  county,  who  from  their  love  of  rest,  have  too  easily 
been  lulled  asleep  in  perilous  times,  —  I  see  them  rub  open  their  eyelids 


WILLIAM    BUTLER.  331 

to  discover  their  imminent  danger.  In  detestation  of  violent  measures, 
I  hear  them  say,  This  government,  so  unreasonably  attacked,  is  OUR 
government.  We  will  have  neither  king  nor  tyrant.  I  see  them  smite 
their  hands  upon  their  thighs  and  say,  By  the  grace  of  Heaven,  our 
government,  bought  for  our  children  with  our  blood,  shall  be  protected 
from  the  dishonest  artifices  of  fraud,  and  the  violence  of  fell  ambition. 
With  them,  under  an  indulgent  Heaven,  the  issue  rests,1 — whether 
we  shall  be  virtuous,  free  and  happy;  or  whether,  driven  into  tyranny 
by  the  storms  of  anarchy  and  confusion,  we  fall,  degraded  and  vile, 
slavish  and  enslaved ;  —  whether  we  shall  reign  kings  in  our  own  gov 
ernment,  or  like  Issachar,  be  as  the  strong  ass,  crouching  down  between 
two  burdens.  To  those,  who  have  been  seduced  from  their  duty  and 
happiness,  I  give  this  friendly  and  faithful  caution,  which  I  wish  them 
timely  to  remember, —  THAT  WHILE  JUSTICE  HAS  LEADEN  FEET, 

SHE    HAS    IRON   HANDS. 

The  Gazette  was  not  entirely  devoted  to  the  suppres 
sion  of  complaint  and  insurrection.  Essays  on  morals 
and  religion  occasionally  appeared,  and,  some  times,  an 
original  piece  of  wit  and  humor  diversified  its  sober 
countenance.  Of  the  latter  description  is  the  following, 
which  might  stand  by  the  side  of  Peter  Pindar's  best 
stories,  without  unfavorable  comparison  :  — 

THE    PARSON   AND    WIDOW. 

A  worthy,  pious  clergyman  of  late, 
Who  ranked  it  with  his  gospel  labors 
To  guard  his  flock,  and  visit  oft  his  neighbors;  — 

(A  practice  now  grown  something  out  of  date; ) 

Good  faithful  man,  with  unremitting  zeal, 

Erom  house  to  house  would  daily  go  ; 
Eager  his  Master's  duty  to  fulfill, 

And  curious  his  parishioners  to  know. 

Full  oft  the  cot  of  wretchedness  he  sought, 

Where  death  or  pale  disease  had  brought  distress, 

With  many  a  balmy  consolation  fraught, 
To  cheer  the  widow  and  the  fatherless. 

Abroad,  o'er  mug  of  cider  or  his  pipe, 
Would  he  inculcate  lessons  moral ; 


332  HAMPSHIRE    GAZETTE. 

From  misery's  cheek  the  tear  of  anguish  wipe, 
Decide  a  cause,  or  terminate  a  quarrel. 

One  day,  on  his  important  charge  intent, 
His  mind  to  unburthen  and  his  maw  to  feast, 

To  a  poor  widow's  house  the  Parson  went, 
Whose  spouse  had  recently  deceased. 

John  to  a  small  estate  was  rightful  heir, 

But  lived  an  idle,  dissipated  life ; 
Would  fight,  get  drunk,  and  rave,  and  swear, 

Abuse  his  family  and  maul  his  wife  ; 
Indulged  his  vices,  till  his  all  was  spent, 
Got  drunk,  and  died  a  vile  impenitent. 

Down  sat  his  reverence  and  began  his  theme  — 
"  Afflictions,  woman,  spring  not  from  the  dust  5 

Our  life  's  a  vapor  —  'tis  an  airy  dream ; 
Death  is  the  lot  of  all,  but  God  is  just. 

"  Your  husband  's  gone,  alas  !  we  know  not  where ; 

The  yawning  grave  doth  every  man  await ; 
Pray,  can  you  tell  me,  did  he  not  despair? 

Was  he  concerned  about  his  future  state?" 

"  Future  estate ! "  exclaimed  poor  Joan, 

With  squeaking  tone ; 
Then  wiped  her  eyes  and  sighed ; 
\£     "  Future  estate  !  why,  ducky  man,  he  Jd  none, 
He  spent  it  long  enough  before  he  died  !  " 

WILLIAM  BUTLER,  the  original  proprietor  and  editor 
of  the  Hampshire  Gazette,  was  a  man  of  correct  princi 
ples  and  habits,  an  unwavering  supporter  of  order,  liberty 
and  law.  He  was  one  of  the  most  industrious  of  men. 
All  his  available  means  he  used  to  extend  his  business, 
and  carried  on  book-printing  and  book-binding  as  well 
as  a  newspaper.  He  also  erected  a  paper-mill,  where 
he  manufactured  paper  for  his  own  accommodation,  and 
more  than  he  used  at  his  own  press.  Soon  after  the 
close  of  the  war  of  1812,  he  sold  the  Gazette;  and, 
being  much  afflicted  with  chronic  rheumatism,  retired 


WILLIAM    BUTLER.  333 

from  active  business,  with  a  decent  competency,  but 
without  the  affluence,  which  thousands  enjoy,  who  never 
practised  a  tithe  of  economy  and  industry  like  his. 

The  Gazette  has  passed  through  the  hands  of  several 
persons,  and  is  now  in  possession  of  William  A.  Hawley. 
It  is  the  oldest  paper  in  Massachusetts,  except  the 
Massachusetts  Spy. 


EXETER  FEDERAL  MISCELLANY. 


IN  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1798,  a  paper  bearing 
this  title  was  published  at  Exeter,  N.  H.  by  Henry 
Ranlet.  I  have  only  two  numbers  of  it,  and  am  unin 
formed  as  to  the  length  of  its  existence.  It  was  printed 
on  a  royal  sheet,  and,  though  the  two  numbers  contain 
nothing  that  give  any  indications  of  original  talent  in  the 
editorial  department,  the  selections  of  political  articles 
are  sufficient  to  justify  the  propriety  of  the  title.  The 
paper  of  February  13,  1799,  has  the  Song  hereto 
annexed,  which  it  is  stated,  editorially,  "  was  composed 
by  an  undergraduate  of  Dartmouth  College.  Notwith 
standing  some  little  deficiencies  in  point  of  language,  it 
discovers  enough  of  poetic,  as  well  as  patriotic,  fire,  to 
entitle  it  to  publication  "  :  — 

THE  TIMES. 

Beneath  the  soft  shade  of  the  clustering  vine, 

With  the  branch  of  the  olive,  —  of  virtue  the  wages, 
Where  laurels  with  roses  and  myrtle  entwine, 

Columbians  have  nourished,  — the  choicest  of  ages : 
Bound  Liberty's  throne, 
Her  heroes  have  grown, 
And  to  the  wide  universe  ever  have  shown, 
That  ne'er  to  a  tyrant  shall  patriots  fall, 
While  Phoebus  his  chariot  impds  round  the  ball. 

Dark  glooms  the  grim  tempest  of  havoc  and  war, 
The  thunder  of  tyranny  shakes  the  wide  ocean ; 


HENRY    RANLET.  335 

"War  waves  the  red  flag  of  fell  carnage  from  far ; 
But  freemen,  undaunted,  behold  the  commotion : 
Each,  firm  to  his  post, 
To  resist  the  mad  host, 

Resolve  all  assailants  to  drive  from  the  coast : 
To  the  shrine  of  no  tyrant,  Sfc. 

The  spirit  of  Liberty  flashes  around, 

Brave  heroes  assemble,  while  danger  approaches ; 
Of  trumpet  and  drum  boldly  march  to  the  sound, 
To  meet  the  proud  foe,  whose  ambition  encroaches : 
Determined  to  stand, 
And  shield  their  blest  land, 

Or  leave  their  dead  bodies  to  bleach  on  the  strand ; 
To  the  shrine  of  no  tyrant,  8fC* 

Proud  Gallia  may  boast  the  extent  of  her  sway, 
Show  cities  in  ashes  and  kingdoms  subjected ; 
Point  to  Holland  enfranchised,  make  Venice  obey, 

Boast  of  kingdoms  and  empires,  when  plundered,  protected : 
Of  their  fate  we  '11  beware ; 
Our  rights  we  '11  declare, 
And  unitedly  lookup  to  heaven, and  swear, 
That  ne'er  to  a  tyrant,  frc. 

When  the  gauntlet  of  power  was  by  tyranny  thrown, 

When  Slavery  threatened,  and  Freedom  lay  bleeding, 
Americans  made  the  fair  jewel  their  own, 
To  hand  it,  unblemished,  to  ages  succeeding. 
Proud  Britain,  in  vain, 
Had  bridged  o'er  the  main, 
Intending  to  rivet  harsh  Slavery's  chain. 
To  the  shrine  of  no  tyrant,  frc. 

How  vain  the  attempt  of  the  minions  of  pride, 

With  the  engines  of  death,  to  appall  our  firm  nation ! 
Not  all  Europe's  cohorts,  to  Britain  allied, 

Could  have  driven  Americans  from  their  fixed  station. 
Like  a  mount,  to  the  flood, 
Great  Washington  stood, 
And  rolled  back  the  foe  in  a  torrent  of  blood. 
To  the  shrine  of  no  tyrant,  S(-c. 

Again,  when  the  clarion  of  War  spreads  alarm, 

From  the  venerable  Mount  comes  the  Patriot  hoary, 


336  EXETER    FEDERAL    MISCELLANY. 

To  shield  Freedom's  altars  and  temples  from  harm, 
And  raise  them,  sublime,  to  the  summit  of  glory. 
Though  silvered  with  age, 
When  Jacobins  rage, 

He  comes,  like  a  tempest,  their  force  to  engage : 
To  the  shrine  of  no  tyrant,  frc. 

Midst  Faction  enkindled,  just  bursting  to  flame, 
See  ADAMS,  like  Atlas,  our  glory  supporting ; 
While  the  foes  of  our  freedom,  encrimsoned  with  shame, 

Scarce  own  the  mad  rabble,  whose  smiles  they  've  been  courting: 
Then,  ADAMS  our  guide, 
In  him  we  '11  confide, 

And  safe  o'er  the  whirlpools  of  Faction  we  '11  ride  : 
And  ne'er  to  the  shrine  of  a  tyrant  will  fall 
While  Phoebus  his  chariot  impels  round  the  ball. 


APPENDIX   TO    VOL.  I. 


JAMES  FRANKLIN'S   IMPRISONMENT. 

IN  a  note,  page  68,  it  is  said,  "  What  Franklin  was 
imprisoned  for  does  not  distinctly  appear."  Since  that 
part  of  the  volume  was  printed,  the  Hon.  EDWARD 
EVERETT  has  furnished  me  with  an  explanation  of  this 
obscure  point  in  the  history  of  Franklin,  which  he 
obtained  by  consulting  the  manuscript  records  of  the 
General  Court,  for  the  month  of  June  1722,  and  which 
is  here  abridged  :  — 

In  the  Courant  of  June  11,  1722,  there  was  an  arti 
cle,  dated  Newport,  R.  I.  June  7,  containing  an  account 
of  the  appearance  of  a  pirate  off  Block  Island,  and  of 
the  prompt  steps  taken  at  Newport  to  send  out  two  ves 
sels  to  cruise  against  him.  The  article  concludes  with 
this  remark :  —  "  We  are  advised  from  Boston  that  the 
government  of  the  Massachusetts  are  fitting  out  a  ship  to 
go  after  the  pirates,  to  be  commanded  by  Captain  Peter 
Papillon,  and  'tis  thought  he  will  sail  sometime  this 
month,  wind  and  weather  permitting."  The  insinuation 
of  tardiness,  in  the  conclusion  of  the  pretended  article 
from  Rhode-Island,  seems  to  have  been  taken  as  an 
affront  to  the  government.  On  the  12th  of  June,  the 
day  succeeding  the  publication,  the  council  had  the 
Courant  before  them,  and  apprehending  that  a  para- 

VOL.  i.  29 


338  APPENDIX. 

graph  therein,  said  to  be  written   from   Rhode-Island, 
contains  matter  of  reflection  on  this  government, 

"  Ordered,  That  the  publisher  of  said  paper,  be  forthwith  sent  for  to 
answer  for  the  same,  and  accordingly  James  Franklyn,  of  Boston, 
printer,  was  sent  for,  examined,  and  owned  that  he  had  published  the 
said  paper." 

The  council,  having  had  consideration  of  the  para 
graph  relating  to  the  fitting  out  of  a  ship  to  proceed 
against  the  pirates,  "  resolved  that  the  said  paragraph 
is  a  high  affront  to  this  government."  The  sheriff  of 
the  county  of  Suffolk  was  forthwith  ordered  to  commit, 
to  the  gaol  in  Boston,  the  body  of  Franklin,  and  the 
order  was  immediately  executed. 

The  records  of  the  General  Court  contain  the  follow 
ing  entry  the  next  week  :  — 

"  In  Council,  20th  June,  1722,  a  petition  of  James  Franklyn,  printer, 
humbly  shewing,  that  he  is  truly  sensible  and  heartily  sorry  for  the 
offence  he  has  given  to  this  court  in  the  late  Courant,  relating  to  the 
fitting  out  of  a  ship  by  the  government,  and  truly  acknowledges  his 
inadvertency  and  folly  therein  in  affronting  the  government,  as  also  his 
indiscretion  and  indecency  when  before  the  court,  for  all  which  he 
intreats  the  court's  forgiveness,  and  praying  a  discharge  from  the  stone 
prison  where  he  is  confined  by  order  of  the  court,  and  that  he  may  have 
the  liberty  of  the  yard,  he  being  much  indisposed  and  suffering  in  his 
health  by  the  said  confinement;  a  certificate  of  Dr.  Zabdiel  Boylston 
being  offered  with  the  said  petition. 

"  In  the  House  of  Representatives,  read,  and 

"  Voted,  that  James  Franklyn,  now  a  prisoner  in  the  stone  gaol,  may 
have  the  liberty  of  the  prison  house  and  yard,  upon  his  giving  security 
for  his  faithful  abiding  there. 

"  In  Council,  read  and  concurred ;  consented  to. 

"SAMUEL  SHUTE." 

It  is  rather  singular  that  Mr.  Thomas  should  have 
overlooked  these  documents  in  his  examination  of  the 
colonial  records.  He  has  transferred  to  his  History  the 
following  records,  which  may  be  interesting  to  the  reader, 


APPENDIX.  339 

as  an  elucidation  of  this  part  of  the  History  of  the  New- 
England  Courant :  — 

"In  CouncilJuly  5th,  1722." 

"  Whereas  in  the  Paper  called  the  New-Enyland  Courant  printed 
Weekly  by  James  Franklin,  many  passages  have  been  published  boldly 
reflecting  on  His  Majesty's  Government  and  on  the  Administration  of 
it  in  this  Province,  the  Ministry,  Churches  and  College ;  and  it  very 
often  contains  Paragraphs  that  tend  to  fill  the  Readers'  minds  with 
vanity  to  the  Dishonor  of  God,  and  disservice  of  Good  Men. 

"  Resolved,  that  no  such  Weekly  Paper  be  hereafter  Printed  or  Pub 
lished  without  the  same  be  first  perused  and  allowed  by  the  Secretary, 
as  has  been  usual.  And  that  the  said  Franklin  give  Security  before 
the  Justices  of  the  Superior  Court  in  the  Sum  of  100/.  to  be  of  the 
good  Behaviour  to  the  End  of  the  next  Fall  Sessions  of  this  Court. 
Sent  down  for  Concurrence." 

"  Read  and  Non-concurred." 

LETTERS   FROM  REV.   S.  PETERS. 
Page  195. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Provincial  Congress  pub 
lished  in  the  Boston  Gazette,  embrace  some  interesting 
papers,  and  among  them  are  the  following  Letters, — 
which  were  read  in  the  congress,  —  from  the  Rev.  Sam 
uel  Peters,  minister  of  an  Episcopal  Church  at  Hebron, 
Connecticut :  — 

Dear  Mother,  BOSTON,  September  28,  1774. 

I  am  yet  well,  and  doing  business  for  my  intended  route ;  I  hear 
that  a  mob  was  gathered  for  me  the  day  after  I  left  Hebron ;  what  they 
have  done,  I  cannot  yet  find  out.  As  Jonathan  will  be  obliged  to  attend 
at  New  Haven  when  the  assembly  sits,  I  desire  him  to  let  Mr.  Jarvis, 
Andrews,  Hubbard,  &c.  collect  all  facts  touching  mobs  and  insults 
offered  the  clergy  of  our  church  or  her  ministers,  likewise  to  send  me  a 
copy  of  the  clergy's  petition  to  Governor  Trumbull,  and  what  he  said 
in  answer.  If  Jonathan  is  hurt,  or  my  house  hurt  or  damage  done,  let 
that  be  transmitted  me  within  fourteen  days,  or  after  that  send  those 
accounts  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Rice  Williams,  a  woollen-draper  in  Lon 
don.  I  am  in  high  spirits.  I  should  be  happy  if  my  friends  and  rela 
tions  at  Hebron  were  provided  for  at  these  bad  times,  when  things  are 
growing  worse.  Six  regiments  are  coming  over  from  England  and 
sundry  men-of-war;  so  soon  as  they  come,  hanging  work  will  go  on, 


340  APPENDIX. 

and  destruction  will  attend  first  the  sea-port  towns;  the  lintel  sprinkled 
on  the  side-post  will  preserve  the  faithful.  I  wish  Hannah  to  take 
some  papers  which  she  and  I  laid  away,  and  bring  them  to  rne :  she 
knows  where  they  be  ;  or  burn  them,  if  this  letter  appears  to  be  opened 
before  it  is  opened  by  you.  Mr.  Beebe  and  Mr  Daniel  Jones,  Mr.  War 
ren  and  Griffith  of  Millington,  must  draw  up  a  narrative  of  their  suf 
ferings,  and  such  words  as  Col.  Spencer,  &c.  have  spoke  by  way  of 
encouragement  to  mobs,  and  let  Dr.  Beebe  send  the  same  to  me,  to 
the  care  of  Mr.  Thomas  Brown,  merchant  in  Boston. 

To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Auchmuty  of  New-  York. 

BOSTON,  October  1,  1774. 
Eev.  Sir, 

The  riots  and  mobs,  that  have  attended  me  and  my  house,  set  on 

by  the  G of  Connecticut,  have  compelled  me  to  take  up  my  abode 

here ;  and  the  clergy  of  Connecticut  must  fall  a  sacrifice,  with  the  several 
churches,  very  soon,  to  the  rage  of  the  Puritan  mobility,  if  the  old  ser 
pent,  that  dragon,  is  not  bound.  Yesterday  I  waited  on  his  excellency 
the  admiral,  &c.  Dr.  Caner,  Mr.  Trothbeck,  Dr.  Byles,  &c.  I  am  soon 
to  sail  for  England.  I  shall  stand  in  need  of  your  letters,  and  the  let 
ters  of  the  clergy  of  New- York.  Direct  to  Mr.  Rice  Williams,  wool 
len-draper  in  London,  where  I  shall  put  up  at.  Judge  Auchmuty  will 
do  all  that  is  reasonable  for  their  neighboring  charter ;  necessity  calls 
for  such  friendship,  as  the  head  is  sick  and  heart  faint,  and  spiritual 
iniquity  rides  in  high  places;  halbcrts,  pistols,  and  swords;  see  the 
proclamation  I  sent  you  by  my  nephew,  on  their  pious  Sabbath  day, 
the  4th  of  last  month,  when  the  preachers  and  magistrates  left  their 
pulpits,  &c.  for  the  gun  and  drum,  and  set  off  for  Boston,  cursing  the 
King  and  Lord  North,  General  Gage,  the  bishops  and  their  cursed 
curates,  and  the  church  of  England ;  and  for  my  telling  the  church  people 
not  to  take  up  arms,  &c.  it  being  high  treason,  &c.  The  sons  of  liberty 
have  almost  killed  one  of  my  church,  tarred  and  feathered  two,  abused 
others,  and  on  the  6th  day,  destroyed  my  windows,  —  and  rent  my 
clothes,  even  my  gown,  &c.  crying  out,  down  with  the  church,  the  rags 
of  popery,  &c.  Their  rebellion  is  obvious,  and  treason  is  common, 
and  robbery  is  their  daily  devotion.  The  bounds  of  New  York  may 
directly  extend  to  Connecticut  River,  Boston  meet  them,  and  New- 
Hampshire  take  the  province  of  Maine,  Rhode-Island  be  swallowed  up 
as  Dathan.  Pray  lose  no  time,  nor  fear  worse  times  than  attend, 

Rev.  Sir,        Your  very  humble  servant, 
To  Dr.  Auchmuty,  New- York.  SAMUEL  PETERS. 

P.  S.    I  wrote  the  clergy  of  Connecticut;  the  letters  may  be  inter 
cepted  ;  pray  acquaint  Mr.  Dibble,  &c. 


APPENDIX.  341 

BENJAMIN  EDES. 

Page    197. 

The  editors  of  the  Centinel  having  been  threatened 
with  personal  violence,  in  consequence  of  a  publication 
concerning  a  club,  called  Sans  Souci,  Edes  published 
the  following  remarks,  which  illustrate  his  boldness  in 
defence  of  the  liberty  of  the  press,  even  when  that  lib 
erty  was  invaded  by  an  attack  on  a  political  opponent :  — 

CCP"  The  attack  made  upon  the  printers  of  the  Centinel  on  Saturday 
last,  by  a  number  of  well-known  persons,  ought  to  excite  the  serious 
attention  of  all  those,  who  duly  regard  the  bulwark  of  our  liberties, 
THE  FREEDOM  OF  THE  PRESS.  If  a  printer,  for  advertising  that  he 
intends  to  publish  a  certain  book  for  the  information,  or  merely  the 
amusement  or  innocent  diversion  of  his  fellow-citizens,  is  to  be  beset 
and  abused  by  a  set  of  club-men,  because  the  title-page  does  not  hap 
pen  to  hit  their  taste,  we  may  take  a  farewell  of  our  independence, 
which  we  have  gloriously  obtained,  not  without  great  expense  of  our 
treasure,  and  the  loss  of  some  of  our  best  blood.  A  wound  in  so  ten 
der  a  point  must  surely  prove  fatal !  Should  the  government  appoint 
licensers  of  the  Press,  it  would  give  just  cause  of  offence.  What  right, 
then,  has  any  set  of  men  to  forbid  the  printing  a  book,  till  it  has  had 
their  imprimatur,  or  to  punish  a  printer  with  club-law,  for  advertising 
it  ?  The  institution  of  a  society  under  the  name  of  Sans  Souci,  or 
Free  and  Easy,  has  raised  the  apprehensions  as  well  as  curiosity  of 
many  men  of  sober  sentiments  in  this  community,  and  such  a  manner 
of  defending  it  does  not  tend  to  diminish  their  apprehensions.  But 
since  this  mode  has  been  taken  for  its  defence,  it  concerns  the  PUBLIC  to 
inquire  into  its  nature  and  design ;  —  that,  if  it  be  innocent,  it  may  have 
the  common  protection  ;  but  if  it  tends  to  promote  GAMING,  IDLENESS, 
and  DISSIPATION,  it  may  be,  as  it  ought,  discountenanced  and  sup 
pressed. 

LEONARD   WORCESTER. 

See  page  243. 

As  the  name  of  Mr.  Worcester  does  not  appear  in  the 
Spy,  after  the  year  1794,  it  is  presumed  that  he  then 
retired  from  the  business  of  printing,  and  began  a  course 
of  study  preparatory  to  entering  on  the  profession  of  a 

29* 


342  APPENDIX. 

clergyman.  Where  or  with  whom,  he  pursued  his 
studies,  I  am  not  informed.  He  began  preaching  in  the 
course  of  two  or  three  years  after  dissolving  his  connec 
tion  with  Isaiah  Thomas,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  a 
church  at  Peacham,  in  Vermont,  previous  to  the  year 
1799.  A  near  relative  of  Mr.  Worcester,  has  oblio-- 

O 

ingly  permitted  me  to  copy  a  part  of  a  letter  from  him 
to  his  father,  written  while  he  was  an  apprentice  to  Mr. 
Thomas,  which  beautifully  illustrates  his  character  as  a 
pure-minded  and  most  conscientious  man.  It  will  be 
perceived  that  his  purpose  of  becoming  a  preacher  of  the 
gospel  was  formed  several  years  before  it  became  practi 
cable  to  put  it  in  execution.  His  remarks  concerning 
the  business,  in  which  he  was  then  laboring,  will  be 
interesting  to  printers,  and  must  be  acknowledged  to  be 
as  applicable  to  the  mode  of  carrying  on  the  business  now 
as  they  were  in  1787. 

Worcester,  September  18/A,  1787. 
Honored  Sir, 

The  many  proofs  which  I  have  received  of  your  affection  for  me, 
excites  in  my  breast  the  warmest  sentiments  of  gratitude.  But  when  I 
shall  be  able  to  make  any  other  compensation  for  your  numerous  favors, 
is  known  only  to  Him  who  reads  the  pages  of  futurity.  But,  it  is  my 
fervent  prayer,  that  my  conduct  in  life,  and  that  of  all  those  who  have 
had  the  happiness  to  derive  their  existence  from  so  kind  a  Parent,  may 
ever  be  such,  as  in  some  measure  to  reward  the  assiduity  with  which 
you  have  labored  to  promote  our  happiness  :  —  and  while  many  other 
parents  have  the  unhappiness  of  seeing  their  children  sacrifice  their 
interest,  happiness,  and  even  their  lives  in  the  pursuit  of  those  pleasures 
which  finally  end  in  irretrievable  ruin,  may  you  have  the  solid  satisfac 
tion  of  seeing  yours  walking  in  the  paths  of  virtue,  and  seeking  a  crown 
of  immortal  glory  —  that  in  the  decline  of  life,  you  may  reflect  with 
pleasure  on  the  prospect  there  may  then  be  of  each  of  your  children's 
being  useful  members  of  society,  —  and  when  you  shall  be  brought  to 
the  closing  scene  of  this  transitory  existence,  may  the  hopes  of  meeting 
your  family  in  a  future  and  happy  world,  enable  you  to  meet  with  calm 
ness  and  serenity  the  messenger  of  death,  and  welcome  his  approach. 


APPENDIX.  343 

For  me  to  alter  my  course  of  life,  and  determine  upon  following  any 
other  occupation  than  the  one  I  do  at  present,  Avithout  laying  the  mat 
ter  before  you,  and  asking  your  advice,  you  might  justly  deem  an  un 
grateful  piece  of  conduct.  I  shall  therefore,  honored  sir,  lay  my  mind 
open  to  you  with  freedom,  and  ask  your  friendly  advice.  For  me  to 
follow  the  printing  business  any  longer  than  necessity  obliges  me,  there 
appears  to  be  but  little  encouragement.  You  are  sensible  that  the 
cost  attending  setting  it  up  so  as  to  follow  it  with  any  advantage  to 
myself,  or  usefulness  to  others,  must  be  very  considerable.  And  it  is  a 
trade  which,  of  all  others,  requires  money  to  carry  it  on.  Your  cir 
cumstances  are  such,  as  to  put  it  out  of  your  power  to  afford  me  much 
assistance,  nor  can  I  reasonably  expect  it  of  you — journeymen's  wages 
at  this  business  are  very  low,  and  journeymen  numerous,  and  daily 
increasing.  Nor  do  I  think  that  master  printers  are  so  favorable  to 
them  as  in  justice  they  ought  to  be,  for  they  will  sooner  take  apprentices 
to  do  their  work,  than  employ  journeymen  —  and  if  printers  increase 
as  fast  for  a  few  years  to  come  as  they  do  at  present,  they  will  not, 
many  of  them,  procure  a  subsistence  by  their  trade.  Besides,  there  are 
printing-offices  already  established  in  almost  every  populous  town  in  this 
part  of  the  country.  These,  sir,  are  circumstances  which  I  consider  as 
very  discouraging  —  and  I  doubt  not  but  you  will  view  them  in  the 
same  light. 

I  suppose  you  wrill  by  this  time  be  ready  to  inquire  what  other  occu 
pation  will  be  more  agreeable  to  my  inclinations  '?  I  almost  blush  to 
mention  it,  even  to  the  tenderest  of  parents.  But  you  will  pardon  me, 
sir,  when  I  inform  you  that  I  shall  not  presume  to  do  any  thing  con 
cerning  this  matter,  without  your  consent.  From  my  childhood  my 
inclination  has  led  me  to  desire  that  I  might  one  day  become  a  preacher 
of  the  gospel.  These  desires  I  have  been  obliged  to  suppress,  because 
I  knew  you  could  not  give  me  a  liberal  education.  And  I  believe  I 
should  wholly  have  conquered  them,  if  persons  of  my  acquaintance 
had  not  repeatedly  informed  me  that  it  was  their  expectation  that  this 
would  be  the  case.  What  led  them  to  form  this  opinion,  I  cannot  tell. 
Sure  I  am  that  I  gave  them  no  intimations  of  any  such  thing  in  any  of 
my  conversations.  It  being  frequently  mentioned  to  me,  awakened  the 
desire  that  it  should  be  so.  And  my  brother  Noah's  informing  me  that 
it  was  his  opinion  that  this  would  be  the  case,  when  I  saw  him  last,  has 
kindled  these  desires  into  a  flame.  And  upon  the  whole,  I  want  no 
thing  but  your  approbation  to  determine  upon  it.  If  I  gain  that,  I  shall 
endeavor  to  improve  myself  in  writing  and  arithmetic,  so  as  to  be  able 
to  take  the  charge  of  a  school  for  some  time  after  I  have  done  living 
here,  where  I  shall  probably  be  able  to  pursue  the  necessary  studies, 


344  APPENDIX. 

with  greater  assiduity  than  I  can  to  continue  at  this  business.  I  hope 
you  will  advise  with  caution,  remembering  that  the  future  usefulness 
and  happiness  of  your  son  depends  in  a  great  measure  upon  your  de 
cision.  Perhaps  you  will  think  that  if  I  now  alter  my  course,  I  shall 
lose  the  time  which  I  have  spent  in  acquiring  a  superficial  knowledge  of 
this  business.  But  unless  you  consider  that  I  have  had  greater  advan 
tages  of  gaining  knowledge  here  than  I  should  have  had  in  most  other 
places,  that  objection  will  not  need  an  answer.  Possibly,  if  you  should 
approve  the  design,  I  might  persuade  Mr.  Thomas  to  give  me  up  the 
bond  for  my  last  year,  or  a  part  of  it  at  least.  You  will  please  to  give 
me  a  plain  and  full  answer,  by  the  first  opportunity.  *  =*  * 
I  am  your  most  dutiful  son, 

LEONARD  WORCESTER. 
NOAH  WORCESTER,  ESQ. 

The  writer  of  this  admirable  letter  was  connected 
with  the  church  in  Peacham,  Vermont,  more  than  fifty 
years.  He  died  at  a  very  advanced  age,  respected  and 
regretted  by  all  that  knew  him. 


INDEX   TO   VOL.   I. 


Adams,  Abijah,  trial  for  a  libel,  258  — 

his  death  and  character,  265. 
Adams,  John,   166,  174,  196,  — con 
troversy  with  Brattle,  175. 
Adams  &  Larkin,  256. 
Adams  &  Nourse,  253-256. 
Adams,  Samuel,  106-196. 
Adams,  Thomas,  256  -  260. 
Allen,  John,  5. 
Allen,  J.  Wincoll,  227. 
American  Herald,  252. 
American  Oracle  of  Liberty,  237. 
Andrews,  Lor  ing,  321. 
Aurora  Boreal  is,  25. 
Austin,  Benjamin,  jun.,  268-280. 
Austin,  Charles,  278. 
Advertiser,  American,  304. 

•  Federal,  321. 

Independent,  156. 

Universal,  248. 

Weekly,  308. 

Bacon,  John,  senator,  258. 

Ballard,  Davis  C.,  266. 

Bears,  killed  at  Marblehead  and  in 

Boston  harbor,  S6. 
Bigelow,  Daniel,  239. 
Bigelow,  Joshua,  31. 
Bitterly,  Will.  97. 
Blunt,  Timothy,  98. 
Boone,  Nicholas,  4. 
Boston  Chronicle,  212. 
Boston  Evening  Post,  129-  153. 
Boston  Gazette,  Brooker's,  44. 

Kneeland  &  Green's,  46. 

Edes  &  Gill's,  165-202. 

S.  Kneeland's,  163. 

Boston  Massacre,  167. 
Boston  Port  Bill,  193,  236. 
Boston  Saint,  letters  of,  41. 
Boston  Weekly  Advertiser,  206. 
Boston  Weekly  Post-Boy,  154. 
Boy  whipped  at  the  cart's  tail,  87. 
Boydell.  John,  46. 
Boyle,  John,  42. 
Bradford,  William  &  Thomas,  288. 


Brattle,  William,  175. 

Brimstone,  George,  98. 

Brooker,  William,  44. 

Bunker  Hill,  battle  of,  and  verses  on, 
221. 

Brantrey,  proceedings  in  the  church 
of,  86. 

Burgoyne,  defence  of  Gen.  Lee,  220. 

Burnet,  Governor,  106. 

Butler,  William,  329,  332. 

Byles,  Rev.  Mather,  54,  101,  104, 
"105  —  his  hymn  on  tempest,  102  — 
verses  on  the  death  of  George  I., 
104  —  on  the  accession  of  George 
II.,  104  — on  the  arrival  of  Gov- 
ernor  Burnet,  106  —  letter  to  Pope, 
109  —  obituary  notice,  109. 

Burlesque  on  the  Council,  68. 

Burlesque  advertisement,  87. 

Calisthenes,  by  J.  Quincy,  jun.,  105. 

Campbell,  John,  4-23 — ;  personal 
history,  5  —  appeals  to  the  public, 
7,  8  —  quarrel  with  Franklin,  8  -  10 
— -"style  of  writing,  12,  13  —  adver 
tisements,  16,  17. 

Cassim,  vision  of,  285. 

Castalio,  letter  to  J.  Franklin,  52. 

Charlestown,  burning  of,  221. 

Chaunccy,  Rev.  Dr.  139.     — -•< 

Chronicle,  Boston,  212. 

Chronicle,  Independent,  248-287. 

Chronicle,  New-England,  220-224. 

Cincinnati,  254. 

Cole,  Israel,  obituary  and  epitaph, 
85. 

Connecticut  Gazette,  316. 

Connecticut  Journal,  313. 

Constitutional  Courant,  246. 

Continental  Journal,  308. 

Courant,  New-England,  49-88  — 
editorial  paragraphs,  84  -88. 

Gushing,  Thomas,  166. 

Danforth,  Judge,  101. 
Da  wes,  Thomas,  311. 


346 


INDEX. 


Devil,  getting  into  a  pot,  84. 

Dogood,  Mrs.  Silence,  62,  64,  65. 

Draper  &  Folsom,  304. 

Draper,  John,  27-29. 

Draper,  Margaret,  42,  43. 

Draper,  Richard,  29  — his  death,  42 

—  quarrel  with  Edes  &  Gill,  208. 
Dudley,  Governor,  proclamation,  14. 
D union,  an  English  bookseller,  2. 

— *S 

Early  Riser,  314. 

Eclipse  of  Liberty,  160. 

Eclipse  of  the  sun,  73. 

Edes  &  Gill,  165-196. 

Edes,  Benjamin,  196  —  his  evasion 
of  the  stamp-act,  197  —  appeals  to 
the  public,  198  —  farewell  address, 
202  —  life  and  character,  204  — 
death,  205,  341. 

Edes,  Benjamin,  jun.,  196. 

Edes,  Peter,  196. 

Elegy  on  Mrs.  Mehitable  Kittel,  75. 

Emerald,  105. 
~~  Epitaph  on  a  drunkard,  35. 

Essex  Gazette,  217. 

Essex  Journal,  299. 

Etheridge,  Samuel,  252. 

Evening  Post,  Boston,  129  - 153. 

Fashions,  115. 

Federal  Advertiser,  320. 

Federal  Miscellany,  334. 

Felt,  Rev.  Joseph  B.,  1. 

Fleet,  Thomas,  126,  129-145  — in 
formation  against,  130  —  editorials, 
131, 135, 140  — advertisements,  131, 
132,  142,  144  —  controversy  with 
Rev.  J.  Morehead,  132  —  contro 
versy  with  Rev.  Mr.  Gee,  136  — 
notices  of  his  life  and  death,  142- 
145. 

Fleet,  Thomas  &  John,  145  -  153. 

Fleming,  John,  215. 

Fowle,  Daniel,  159  —  arrested  by 
order  of  General  Court,  160  —  re 
moval  to  Portsmouth,  162. 

Fowle,  Zechariah,  161,  229. 

Fowle,  Jacob,  adventures,  13. 

Foxcroft,  Rev.  Thomas.  136. 

Franklin,  Benjamin,  64  —  address  to 
the  public,  79  —  writings  in  the 
Courant,  64,  88. 

Franklin,  James,  8,49  —  controversy 
with  the  Mathers,  50-59  —  impris 
onment,  66  —  lamentation,  74  — 
removal  to  Newport,  88  —  widow 
of,  228. 

Frauds  and  delusions,  121  -  125. 

Freeman,  Edmund,  321. 


"Freeman,  Rev.  James,  246. 

Gazette,  Boston,  44, 46, 163, 165-  204. 

Essex,  217. 

Massachusetts,  30,  227. 

Salem,  225.     ' 

Weekly,  220. 

Worcester,  240. 


Gardiner,  John,  325. 

Gardiner,  Rev.  J.  S.  J.  199. 

Gee,  Rev.  Mr.  136. 

Gill,  John,  308. 

Goddard,  William,  246. 

Gordon,  Rev.  William,  251. 

Gravely,  Charles,  95. 

Graves,  Sir  Samuel,  37. 

Green,  Bartholomew,  5  —  publisher 
and  editor  of  the  News-Letter,  23 
—  notices  to  customers,  24  —  edi 
torials,  25  —  obituary  notice,  26. 

Green,  Bartholomew,  jun.  48. 

Green  &  Russell,  206. 

Green,  John,  209. 

Green,  Samuel,  26. 

Green,  Thomas  &  Samuel,  313. 

Green,  Timothy,  48,  313,  316. 

Greenleaf,  Thomas,  281. 

Gridley,  Jeremy,  112  —  essays  in  the 
Rehearsal,  112  -  125  —  character, 
127  —  verses  on  his  death,  128. 

Hall,  Ebenezer,  217,  223. 

Hall,  Samuel,  217-228  —  removal 
from  Salem  to  Cambridge,  220  — 
to  Boston,  223  — to  Salem,  225  — 
to  Boston,  226  —  birth  place,  death, 
and  character,  228. 

Hampshire  Gazette,  329. 

Hancock,  John,  166. 

Happy  man,  218. 

Harris,  Benjamin,  2  —  printer  of  laws, 
3. 

Hassenclever,  Peter,  247. 

Hell-Fire  Club,  59,  63. 

Herald  of  Freedom,  321. 

Hicks,  John,  211. 

Hobby,  Rev.  William,  136. 

Honestus,  274. 

Honeysuckle,  Mr.  98. 

Horace,  translation  of,  83. 

Hoop  Petticoats,  88. 

Howe,  General,  Proclamations,  36. 

Howe,  John,  43. 

Howell,  John,  327. 

Huske,  Ellis,  154. 

Hughes,  John,  289,  293. 

Hutchinson,  Governor,  171,  174,  186, 
187,  191,  193,  234,  235. 

Hutton,  Henry,  148. 


INDEX. 


347 


Hypercriticus,  71. 
Hyperion,  177,  178. 

Independent  Advertiser,  156-158. 
Independent  Chronicle,  248-287. 
Independent  Ledger,  304. 
Indian  Pudding,  87. 
Inoculators,  51. 

Jacobin  iad,  199. 
Janus,  Old,  SI,  82. 
Jarvis,  Dr.  Charles,  280. 
Join  or  die,  236,  246. 
Journal,  Continental,  308. 

New-England  Weekly,  89  - 

111. 

Country,  165. 

Pennsylvania,  288-297. 

King's  birth-day,  107.  "^ 

Kneeland  &  Green,  46,  47,  107,  163. 
Kneeland,  Samuel,  47,  89. 

Ladies,  meetings  of,  33 

Laco  and  Co.,  322. 

Lelius,  communication,  187. 

Lee,  General  Burgoyne's  defence  of, 

220. 
Letter    from  a  countryman  to  the 

town  of  Boston,  18  —  to  Couranto 

on  his  imprisonment,  66. 
Lewis,  Thomas,  46. 
Liberty  Song,  146  —  parody  on,  148., 
Lubbuck,  James,  90. 
Lucius,  letter  to  Gov.  Hutchinson, 

171. 

Lunt,  Ezra,  298,  303. 
Lyman,  Rev.  Joseph,  329. 

Manning,  William,  244. 

Marchmont,  Nedham,  186. 

Marshall,  Henry,  46. 

Marvel,  Andrew,  246. 

Martha's  Vineyard,. 87. 

Masquerade,  38. 

Massachusettensis,  175. 

Massachusetts  Gazette,  29,  187,  207, 
227. 

Massachusetts  Spy,  229,  247  —  re 
moval  to  Worcester,  237  —  publi 
cation  suspended,  242. 

Massacre,  Boston,  167  —  anniversary 
of,  168. 

Mather,  Increase  and  Cotton,  21,  23, 
50  —  advice  to  the  public,  53  — 
letter  to  Franklin,  55. 

Mem  &  Fleming,  212. 

Mein,  John,  214. 

Mills  &  Hicks,  208. 


Mills,  Nathaniel,  211. 
Monster  of  Monsters,  160. 
Morton,  Perez,  280. 
Murray.  John,  193. 
Musgrave,  Phillip,  46,  58,  61. 
Mucius  Scaevola,  235. 
Mycall,  John,  298,  303. 

Naked  Truth,  verses  on,  219. 
Nancrede,  Joseph,  227. 
Nedham's  Remembrancer,  189  -  192. 
Negro  incantation,  282. 
New-England  Courant,  49-88. 
New-Eng;Iand  Chronicle,  220. 
New-England  Weekly  Journal,  89  - 

111. 

New- Haven  Post-Boy,  313. 
New- London  Gazette,  316. 
News- Letter,  4  -  43. 
Niles,  Mr.  minister  of  Braintree,  86. 
Novanglus,  175. 

Old  Man,  communication,  183. 

Old  South,  175. 

Oliver,  Andrew,  lieutenant-governor, 

174,  235. 

Oliver  Cromwell  tavern,  223. 
Otis,  James,  166,  311. 

Papal  Bulls,  142. 
Paper  rags,  call  for,  35. 
Parody  on  the  Liberty  Song,  148. 
Parody  parodized,  149. 
Parson  and  Widow,  331. 
Pedlar,  selling  tea,  170. 
Pensylvania  Journal,  288-297. 
Peters,  Rev.  Samuel,  339. 
Pierce,  Richard,  2. 
Pirates,  execution  of,  14  -  16. 
Piscataqua,  curious  account  from,  12. 
Post,  Boston  Evening,  129-153. 
Post-Boy  and  Advertiser,  207. 
Post-Boy,  Boston  Weekly,  154. 
Post-Boy,  Green  &  Russell's,  30. 
Potomac  Guardian,  252. 
Powars  &  Willis,  225,  248,  251. 
Powars,  Edward  Eveleth,  251. 
Power  of  sympathy,  323. 
Primus,  negro  pressman,  162. 
Prince,  Rev.  Thomas,  107,  111. 
Prometheus,  story  of,  118. 
Proteus  Echo,  91,  95,  101. 
Psalm  for  Fast-day,  283. 
Psalm  tunes,  88. 

Quincy,  Josiah,  jun.  177  - 192. 

Rags,  advertisement  for,  35. 
Ranlet,  Henry,  334. 


348 


INDEX. 


Rehearsal,  Weekly,  112-128. 

Revere,  Paul,  168,  237. 

Rhoades,  Ebenezer,  261, 264  —  death, 

266. 

Robie,  Thomas,  73. 
Rogers  &  Fowle,  156,  158. 
Rogers,  Gamaliel,  158. 
Russell  &  Clap,  210. 
Russell,  Joseph,  210. 
Rutland,  whig    proceedings    in  the 

town  of,  193. 

Salem  Gazette,  225. 

Sanderson,  Robert,  214. 

Scioto  Gazette,  252. 

Sel fridge,  T.  O.  277. 

Serpent  with  two  heads,  85. 

Sewall,  Jonathan,  175. 

Shays,  Daniel,  329. 

Shearman,  Deborah,  letter  to  George 

Whitefield,  137. 
Singing  at  Braintree,  86. 
Shute,  Governor,  77. 
Small  Pox,  49,  54. 
Smokers  of  tobacco,  300. 
Soldier's  sentimental  toast,  310. 
Soliloquy  of  the  Liberty  Tree,  38. 

,  William,  239. 
Stamp  Act,  32,  167. 
Strong,  Caleb,  330. 
Sun,  great  eclipse  of,  73. 
Sweeny,  Samuel,  247. 

Tate  and  Brady,  criticism  on  their 
version  of  the  Psalms,  28. 

Tea,  destruction  of,  169. 

Thomas,  Isaiah,  229-245  — appren 
ticeship,  229  —  affair  at  Halifax, 
230  — employed  in  Charleston,  S. 
C.,  231  — return  to  Boston,  231  — 
persecuted  by  Tories,  233  —  contro 


versy  with  Draper,  234  —  removal 
to  Worcester,  237  —  business  con 
nections,  244  —  his  works,  244  — 
founder  of  the  American  Antiqua 
rian  Society,  244  —  death  and  obit 
uary  notice,  245. 

Thomas,  Isaiah,  jun.,  243. 

Tide,  remarkable,  25. 

Times,  334. 

Tinges,  Henry  Walter,  298,  303. 

Tyler,  Royal,  161,  162. 

Verses  on  the  Comet,  73  —  on  a  La 
dy  singing,  125— on  the  death  of 
J.  Gridley,  128  —  to  the  Rev. 
Charles  Chauncey,  139  —  on  the 
burning  of  Charlestown,  221  — on 
General  Warren,  250  —  on  the 
New  Year  291  —  to  smokers,  300. 

Virginia  Resolutions,  257. 

Warren,  Gen.  Joseph,  250. 
Washington,  George,   diploma  from 

Harvard  College,  223. 
Webb,  John,  recantation,  195. 
Weekly  Advertiser,  267. 
Weekly  Journal,  89: 
Weekly  Post-Boy,  154. 
Weekly  Rehearsal,  112-128. 
White,  James,  260,  263. 
•Whitefield,  Rev.  George,  111,  135. 
Willard,  Abijah,  recantation,  194. 
Willis,  Nathaniel,  252. 
Willis,  N.  P.  253. 
Winthrop,  John,  81. 
Worcester  Gazette,  240. 
Worcester,  Leonard,  243,  341 
Worcester  Magazine, ^241. 
Worcester,  instructions  of  the  town 

to  her  Representative,  31. 
Wright,  Edmund,  jun.  266. 


SPECIMENS 


OF 


NEWSPAPER    LITERATURE:; 


PERSONAL    MEMOIRS,    ANECDOTES, 

AND 

REMINISCENCES. 

BY 

JOSEPH   T.   BUCKINGHAM. 

VOL.  II. 


BO  STON: 
REDDING     AND     COMPANY. 

1852. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1850,  by  JOSEPH  T. 
BUCKINGHAM,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District 
of  Massachusetts. 


CONTENTS    OF    VOL.    II 


PAGE 

THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CENTINEL 1 

THE  COLUMBIAN  CENTINEL 58 

THE  SALEM  MERCURY   .        . 118 

THE  SALEM  GAZETTE 120 

THE  NATIONAL  GAZETTE       */ 137 

THE  AMERICAN  APOLLO 147 

THE  MASSACHUSETTS  MERCURY .    .  154 

THE  NEW-ENGLAND  PALLADIUM  . 160 

THE  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM 174 

THE  FEDERAL  ORRERY  v    , 221 

THE  BOSTON  GAZETTE  .    / .251 

THE  RURAL  REPOSITORY 267 

THE  VILLAGE  MESSENGER 276 

THE  POLAR  STAR 294 

THE  FEDERAL  GAZETTE    v .  301 

THE  CONSTITUTIONAL  TELEGRAPHE 308 

THE  GREENFIELD  GAZETTE  .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .318 

THE  POLITICAL  GAZETTE      ........  326 

THE  NEWBURYPORT  HERALD        .......  330 

THE  SALEM  REGISTER   .....  .  333 


APPENDIX. 

NOTE  TO  PAGE  63 356 

INDEX  TO  VOL.  II.  .  351 


SPECIMENS 


OP 


NEWSPAPER  LITERATURE. 


MASSACHUSETTS  CENTINEL. 

A  MEMOIR  of  the  gentleman,  who  was  one  of  the 
original  proprietors  of  this  paper,  and  who  was  the  sole 
owner  and  conductor  of  it  for  more  than  forty  years, 
may  very  properly  precede  any  notices  of  the  paper 
itself.  It  is  regretted  by  all,  who  knew  that  gentleman, 
that  he  left  no  manuscript  record  of  any  of  the  incidents 
of  his  variegated  life.  The  scanty  materials,  from  which 
the  following  biographical  sketch  has  been  compiled,  are 
chiefly  recollections  of  things  stated  by  himself,  at  vari 
ous  times,  in  the  course  of  social  and  familiar  communi 
cation.  In  the  Centinel  itself,  however,  may  be  found 
the  most  faithful  portrait  of  its  editor,  as  a  public  charac 
ter.  His  private  virtues  are  laid  up  in  the  memories  of 
the  friends  and  familiar  acquaintances,  who  have  survived 
him,  and  will  be  forgotten  only  when  friendship,  memory, 
and  reflection  shall  have  become  extinct. 

BENJAMIN  RUSSELL  was  born  in  Boston,  in  the  month 
of  September,  1761.  His  father  was  John  Russell, — 

VOL.  ii.  l 


52  MASSACHUSETTS     CENTINEL. 

a  descendant  from  the  Rev.  John  Russell,  who  was  bora 
in  England,  came  to  Massachusetts  when  quite  a  youth, 
and  was  afterwards  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church 
in  Boston.  Benjamin  was  also  related,  on  the  maternal 
side,  to  Ezekiel  Cheever,  celebrated  as  a  master  of  the 
Boston  Latin  School,  and  to  the  Rev.  Jeremy  Belknap, 
the  accomplished  historian  of  New-Hampshire,  and  the 
author  of  "  American  Biography."  His  father  was  a 
mason  by  trade.  He  died  in  1778,  when  the  subject  of 
this  memoir  was  seventeen  years  old. 

When  quite  a  child,  Russell  was  noted  for  a  remark 
ably  retentive  memory  and  more  than  ordinary  facility 
in  learning  the  tasks  prescribed  by  his  teacher.  He 
was  placed  at  the  public  school  taught  by  Master  Car 
ter,  whose  aptness  in  teaching  and  mildness  of  discipline 
were  somewhat  celebrated.  Nothing  was  then  taught  in 
the  common  schools  of  Boston  but  the  simplest  elements 
of  education.  The  tasks,  that  Russell  had  to  perform, 
embraced  nothing  but  easy  lessons  in  reading,  writing, 
and  arithmetic.  While  yet  a  school-boy  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  frequenting  the  printing-office  of  Isaiah  Thomas, 
where  he  acquired  considerable  facility  in  setting  types, 
and  where,  probably,  he  learned  quite  as  much  as  at 
school. 

I  have  heard  Russell  relate  many  anecdotes  of  his 
boyhood,  of  which  the  following  is  one,  and,  as  near  as 
can  be  recollected,  in  his  own  words  :  — 

It  was  a  part  of  my  duty  as  an  assistant  in  the  domestic  affairs  of 
the  family,  to  have  the  care  of  the  cow.  One  evening,  after  it  was 
quite  dark,  I  was  driving  the  cow  to  her  pasturage,  —  the  common. 
Passing  by  the  burial-ground,  adjoining  the  Stone  Chapel,  I  saw  several 
lights  that  appeared  to  be  springing  from  the  earth,  among  the  graves, 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL  3 

and  immediately  sinking  again  to  the  ground,  or  expiring.  To  my 
young  imagination,  these  lights  could  be  nothing  but  ghosts.  I  left  the 
cow  to  find  her  way  to  the  common,  or  wherever  else  she  pleased,  and 
ran  home  at  my  utmost  speed.  Having  told  my  father  the  cause  of  my 
fright,  as  well  as  I  was  able,  while  in  such  a  state  of  terror  and  agita 
tion,  he  took  me  by  the  hand  and  led  me  directly  to  the  spot,  where  the 
supposed  ghosts  were  still  leaping  and  playing  their  pranks  near  the 
surface  of  the  ground.  My  hair  rose  on  end,  and  seemed  to  lift  my  hat 
from  my  head.  My  flesh  was  chilled  through  to  my  very  bones.  I 
trembled  so  that  I  could  scarcely  walk.  Still  my  father  continued  rap 
idly  marching  towards  the  spot  that  inspired  me  with  so  much  terror. 
When  lo !  there  was  a  sexton,  up  to  his  shoulders  in  a  grave,  throwing 
out,  as  he  proceeded  in  digging,  bones  and  fragments  of  rotten  coffins. 
The  phosphorus  in  the  decaying  wood,  blended  with  the  peculiar  state 
of  the  atmosphere,  presented  the  appearance  that  had  completely  un 
strung  my  nerves,  and  terrified  me  beyond  description.  I  was  never 
afterwards  troubled  with  the  fear  of  ghosts. 

On  the  morning  of  the  memorable  Nineteenth  of 
April,  1775,  it  became  known  throughout  the  town  that 
a  detachment  of  the  British  troops  had  crossed  the  ferry 
the  night  before,  and  were  on  their  march  to  Concord, 
intending  to  destroy  the  military  stores  at  that  place. 
About  eight  o'clock,  another  detachment,  under  Lord 
Percy  had  paraded  in  Tremont-street,  and  were  immedi 
ately  in  motion,  towards  Roxbury.  The  whole  town 
was  in  agitation.  As  soon  as  the  customary  morning 
prayer  had  been  offered  in  the  school,  (the  school-house 
near  the  head  of  School-street,)  Master  Carter  said,  — 
"Boys,  the  war's  begun,  and  you  may  run."  Russell, 
with  several  other  boys  near  his  age,  followed  the  de 
tachment  through  Roxbury  and  Brookline  to  Cambridge. 
The  troops  proceeded  on  towards  Concord,  with  the 
intent  of  aiding  and  supporting  the  detachment,  which 
preceded  them  the  night  before.  The  boys  spent  the 
day,  amusing  themselves,  on  Cambridge  common,  intend 
ing  to  follow  the  soldiers  into  Boston  on  their  return. 


4  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

The  bridge  over  Charles  River  in  Cambridge  was  taken 
up,  or  rendered  impassable,  during  the  day,  and  when 
the  British  army  returned  from  their  expedition  about 
dusk,  there  was  no  way  of  getting  into  Boston  but  by 
the  ferry.  The  boys  from  Boston  attempted  to  follow 
them,  but  found  it  impracticable,  and  they  were  thus 
shut  out  from  their  homes.  All  intercourse  between 
Boston  and  the  country  was  prohibited  by  orders  of  the 
British  commander,  and  his  orders  were  rigidly  enforced. 
Russell  and  his  companions  were  unprovided  with  the 
means  of  subsistence,  and  had  no  resource  but  to  solicit 
food  and  shelter,  which  were  provided  for  them  by  the 
selectmen  and  other  citizens  of  Cambridge. 

The  militia  of  New-England  soon  began  to  assemble 
from  all  directions,  and  several  of  these  vagrant  lads 
attached  themselves  to  the  officers,  — not  by  regular  en 
listment,  but  informally,  as  waiters,  or  errand-boys,  per 
forming  various  services  of  usefulness  and  convenience. 
In  this  way  Russell  hung  around  the  army,  for  more  than 
three  months,  having  no  intercourse  with  his  parents. 

From  the  summit  of  Prospect-Hill  he  saw  the  memora 
ble  contest  of  the  SEVENTEENTH  or  JUNE,  on  Breed's 
Hill,  and  the  conflagration,  which  laid  in  ashes  the 
beautiful  village  of  Charlestown.  He  used  frequently 
to  describe  with  a  distinctness  of  detail,  for  which  he 
was  remarkable,  the  movements  of  the  troops  from  Cam 
bridge  across  the  narrow  neck  of  land,  which  it  was 
necessary  to  pass  in  order  to  reach  the  scene  of  action, 
exposed  to  the  raking  fire  of  a  British  sloop  of  war,  — 
the  undaunted  activity  of  Prescott,  Putnam,  and  other 
officers,  passing  from  one  regiment  or  company  to  another, 
endeavoring  to  encourage  the  troops  to  firmness  and  per- 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  5 

severance,  —  and  the  retreat  of  the  patriot  army  to 
Bunker-Hill,  after  the  bloody  conflict  —  the  defeat  of  an 
ill-provided  and  undisciplined  collection  of  men,  that 
was  hardly  worthy  to  be  called  an  army,  —  a  defeat 
which  proved  to  be  an  immortal  victory. 

About  the  beginning  of  August,  Russell  was  passing 
from  Cambridge  in  company  with  two  or  three  soldiers, 
carrying  baskets  of  provisions  to  Gen.  Putnam's  encamp 
ment  on  Prospect  Hill,  when  he  saw  his  father  and  one 
of  his  uncles  in  a  chaise.  Until  that  moment  his  father 
had  known  nothing  of  him  since  the  Nineteenth  of  April. 
The  meeting  was  doubtless  a  joyful  one  to  both  parties ; 
but  the  pleasure  was  manifested  in  rather  a  singular 
mode.  Russell  used  frequently  to  say  —  "My  father 
jumped  from  the  chaise  and  gave  me  the  hardest  flogging 
I  ever  had."  After  a  short  deliberation  as  to  the  course 
most  advisable  to  adopt,  young  Russell  was  taken  into 
the  chaise,  carried  to  Worcester,  and  left  there  as  an 
apprentice  with  Isaiah  Thomas,  who  had  then  recently 
removed  thither  from  Boston,  and  resumed  the  publica 
tion  of  the  Massachusetts  Spy. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  not,  at  that  time,  in  very  affluent 
circumstances.  During  the  first  year  or  two  of  his 
apprenticeship,  Russell,  with  a  fellow-apprentice,  slept 
in  a  garret,  over  the  printing-office,  on  the  rags  that 
were  taken  in  from  time  to  time  for  the  paper-maker. 
Not  only  his  apprentices,  but  the  master  himself,  fre 
quently  made  their  meals  in  the  office  on  bread,  and 
"  milk  bought  by  the  penny-worth  at  a  time." 

When  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  received 
in  Worcester,  it  was  read  by  Thomas  to  an  assembly 
embracing  almost  the  whole  population  of  that  and  the 


O  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

adjacent  towns.  It  was  received  with  every  possible 
demonstration  of  joy.  In  the  evening,  a  numerous  com 
pany  congregated  at  the  public  tavern,  to  exchange  con 
gratulations,  and  to  testify  their  patriotism  in  a  manner, 
which,  at  the  present  day,  might  not  be  thought  consist 
ent  with  total  abstinence  principles.  Punch,  and  other 
exhilarating  beverages,  flowed  freely,  and  were  partaken 
of  by  Russell  and  other  young  men  without  much  re 
gard  to  what  the  next  day  might  bring  forth.  In  describ 
ing  the  affair  to  me,  Russell  said  — "  We  were  all  so 
happy,  that  we  did  not  exactly  know  all  that  we  did, 
but  we  gave  full  vent  to  our  patriotic  feelings,  till  a  late 
hour  in  the  evening.  We  were  a  little  surprized  in  the 
morning,  to  find  that  about  a  dozen  of  us,  and  I  among 
the  rest,  had  enlisted  as  private  soldiers  in  the  army,  — 
a  recruiting  officer  being  then  in  the  town.  Thomas 
was  very  angry,  and  immediately  set  about  procuring 
my  release.  He  could  hardly  go  on  with  his  business 
without  me,  but  his  principal  plea,  and  that  which  proved 
successful,  was,  that  I  was  not  sixteen  years  of  age,  and 
consequently  that  the  officer  had  transcended  his  power  by 
enlisting  me.  I  was  taken  before  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  being  duly  sworn,  was  asked  if  I  was  sixteen  years 
old.  I  was  quite  willing  to  leave  my  employment  and 
join  the  army,  and  without  giving  a  direct  reply,  said 
that  I  could  not  swear  to  my  age,  as  I  had  no  very  exact 
recollection  of  the  day  when  I  was  born,  or  of  any  cir 
cumstances  attending  rny  birth,  that  could  lead  me  to  fix 
on  the  precise  day.  I  was  discharged,  however,  on 
the  presumption  that  the  enlistment  was  not  strictly 
legal." 

While  he  was  an   apprentice,  Russell  used  to  write 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  7 

paragraphs  for  the  Spy,  and  slip  them  under  the  door  of 
the  office,  —  as  some  others  did,  who  were  averse  to  be 
ing  known  as  "  scribblers  "  for  a  newspaper.  One  day, 
employed  in  setting  up  one  of  his  own  paragraphs,  Rus 
sell  changed  a  word  or  two,  for  which  he  received  a  se 
vere  reprimand.  He  made  the  best  apology  he  could, 
by  appealing  to  Thomas's  judgement  as  to  the  propriety 
of  the  alteration.  It  was  admitted  that  the  change  was 
an  improvement,  but  he  was  threatened  with  corporal 
chastisement  in  case  he  should  ever  again  dare  to  alter, 
in  any  way,  what  should  be  given  him  to  put  in  type. 
Russell  took  the  scolding  meekly,  and  kept  his  secret. 

At  another  time,  one  of  his  anonymous  paragraphs, 
reflecting  severely  and  personally  on  some  of  the  Tories, 
(of  which  Worcester  had  an  ample  share)  was  pub 
lished  and  caused  considerable  excitement,  with  not  a 
few  whig  compliments  for  the  unknown  writer.  The 
authorship  was  attributed  to  Mr.  Bigelow,*  who  was 
questioned,  and  denied  all  knowledge  of  its  origin,  but 

*  Timothy  Bigelow,  who  was  studying  law  in  Worcester.  An  intimate  friend 
ship  was  early  contracted  between  him  and  Russell,  which  continued  unbroken 
till  the  death  of  the  former,  which  happened  on  the  18th  of  May,  1821.  The 
Centinel  of  the  next  morning  had  the  following 

OBITUARY.  It  is  our  duty  to  announce,  that  on  yesterday  morning,  at  6  o'clock, 
the  Hon.  Timothy  Bigelow  departed  this  life  at  Medford,  in  the  55th  year  of  his 
age.  We  trust  we  need  not  say  how  much  our  feelings  on  this  distressing  event 
prevent  our  doing  justice  to  such  an  obituary  notice  of  our  deceased  friend,  as  the 
public  have  a  right  to  expect  from  one  who  knew  him  so  long  and  so  well.  But  to 
all,  in  any  degree  acquainted  with  the  history  of  our  Commonwealth,  for  the  last 
thirty  years,  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  any  thing  of  the  eminent  stations  and  pre 
eminent  services,  sustained  and  performed  by  him.  Nearly  every  page  of  the 
records  of  the  towns  of  Groton  and  Medford,  those  of  the  House  of  Representa 
tives,  (of  which  he  filled  the  office  of  Speaker  eleven  years,  —  eight  of  them  in 
succession)  those  of  the  Hon.  Fenate,  the  Council,  and  the  Boards  of  Commission 
ers  appointed  for  important  objecis  ;  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  over  which  he  presided 
several  years  j  and  of  the  Overseers  of  Harvard  University  —  all,  all  contain 
evidence  of  his  devotion  to  their  interests,  and  of  the  constancy,  integrity,  and 
efficiency,  with  which  he  advocated  them,  and  will  hand  them  down  to  posterity. 
At  his  death,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Hon.  Council,  of  the  Boards  of  Commis 
sioners  for  settling  the  boundary  lines  between  this  State  and  Connecticut,  and  for 


8  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

said  —  "I  think  Ben  wrote  it  —  it  looks  like  him  —  he 
is  full  of  the  spirit  of  revolution  —  his  notions  are  Yan 
kee,  all  over."  Russell  was  interrogated  and  acknow 
ledged  that  he  wrote  the  article.  He  was  dismissed 
without  rebuke,  and  thought  that  he  afterwards  received 
more  favorable  consideration. 

In  relating  the  reminiscences  of  his  apprenticeship, 
Russell  often  spoke  of  Dr.  Franklin,  who  passed  through 
Worcester  several  times,  and  never  failed  to  call  at 
Thomas's  office,  and  hold  some  conversation  with  the 
workmen.  "  With  several  other  young  men  (said  Rus 
sell)  I  was  out  in  the  fields  one  day,  when  we  were  over- 
taken  by  a  tremendous  thunder-shower.  Some  of  the 
party  proposed  to  take  shelter  under  a  large  tree  — 
others  proposed  to  go  into  a  barn  hard  by.  I  objected 
to  both,  and  advised  that  we  should  shelter  ourselves 
under  the  projecting  cliff  of  a  large  rock.  My  advice 
was  followed.  Both  the  tree  and  barn  were  struck  by 
lightning,  but  the  rock  remained  untouched.  I  men 
tioned  this  incident  to  Dr.  Franklin,  who  patted  me  on 

the  disposition  of  the  public  lands  in  Maine ;  and  of  numerous  scientific  and 
benevolent  societies.  Amply  as  this  distinguished  statesman  and  patriot  filled  his 
public  offices,  he  was  equally  pre-eminent  for  the  discharge  of  all  the  duties  of 
a  provident  Father,  a  kind  Husband,  a  hospitable  Neighbor,  a  liberal  and  enlight 
ened  Christian,  and  last,  not  least,  a  constant  and  sincere  Friend.  Other  pens, 
more  adequate  to  the  task,  will  record  the  numerous  traits,  which  distinguished 
him  in  the  former  of  these  characters,  but  that  which  sketches  this  article  will  not 
omit  this  melancholy  occasion  to  record  its  grateful  testimony,  That  he  was  THE 
FRIEND  INDEED.  The  experience  of  forty  years  —  during  which  there  was  not 
one  moment  of  alloy  or  vascillation  in  the  exercise  of  it  —  is  no  common  evidence 
of  sincerity  and  constancy  of  friendship.  For  several  years,  Mr.  B.  was  not 
insensible  of  his  approaching  dissolution  ;  but  he  ever  spoke  of  it  with  resignation 
and  without  repining.  No  one  knew  better  how  to  enjoy  and  appreciate  the 
blessings  and  comforts  of  life  ;  and  no  one  had  stronger  and  more  endearing  ties 
to  bind  him  to  it :  but  he  discovered  no  undue  reluctance  to  parting  with  it.  He 
saw  nothing  in  futurity  to  make  a  change  to  be  dreaded.  Conscious  as  he  must 
have  been  that  his  progress  had  been  that  of  integrity,  honor,  and  usefulness,  he 
must  have  contemplated  in  them  the  PATH  ;  in  his  few  though  severe  bodily  suf 
ferings,  the  PRICE,  and  in  his  anticipated  transition  from  this  to  a  better  world, 
the  "  PROOI,  of  sublime  immortality." 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  9 

the  head,  and  asked  if  I  was  influenced  in  my  judge 
ment  by  what  he  had  written.  I  replied  that  I  was. 
The  Doctor  smiled,  pleasantly,  and  ever  afterwards 
recognized  me  when  he  visited  our  office." 

Some  time  in  the  spring  or  summer  of  1780,  Thomas 
was  drafted  as  a  "  continental  soldier,"  and  was  obliged 
either  to  join  the  army  or  procure  a  substitute.  He  had 
no  desire  to  serve  as  a  private  recruit  in  an  army  that 
was  then  in  a  forlorn  condition.  Russell  was  ambitious 
of  distinction,  and  readily  consented  to  take  the  place  of 
his  employer.  He  joined  the  army  at  West  Point,  and 
was  present  at  the  execution  of  Major  Andre  —  an 
account  of  which  all  his  familiar  acquaintance  will  re 
member  to  have  heard  from  his  own  lips.  He  was  one 
of  the  guard,  that  attended  Andre  to  the  place  of  exe 
cution.  In  a  letter,  which  Russell  wrote  to  the  late  Dr. 
James  Thacher  of  Plymouth,*  he  has  given  a  minute 
account  of  Andre's  appearance  and  deportment,  and  of 
some  of  the  circumstances  incident  to  the  occasion. 

Soon  after  this  event,  the  time  for  which  Russell  was 
enlisted  expired.  He  was  honorably  discharged,  and 
returned  to  Worcester  to  serve  out  -the  remainder  of  his 
apprenticeship.  His  term  of  service  in  the  army  was 
only  six  months.  He  was  never  in  any  engagement 
with  the  enemy.  Though  bound  by  indenture  till  he 
should  be  twenty-one  years  old,  when  he  returned  to 
Thomas,  Russell  insisted  upon  a  release  from  appren 
ticeship  at  twenty,  which  he  contended  was  a  fair  con 
sideration  for  his  having  acted  in  the  army  as  a  substitute 
for  his  employer.  His  claim  was  allowed,  but  not  with 
out  some  backwardness  on  the  part  of  Thomas. 

*tn  the  year  1834,  Dr.  Thacher  published  a  pamphlet  concerning  the  arrest, 
trial,  and  execution  of  Andre,  of  which  the  letter  here  referred  to  makes  a  con 
spicuous  part. 


O  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

In  November,  1783,  having  worked  some  time  as  a 
journeyman,  Russell  was  anxious  to  be  in  business,  and 
to  exert  himself  in  the  profession,  to  which  he  had  been 
educated.  There  was  then  no  foundery  for  casting  types 
in  the  country,  and  to  procure  them  from  Europe  was 
not  an  easy  matter.  With  a  letter  of  credit  in  his 
pocket,  Russell  traveled  on  foot  from  Boston  to  New- 
York,  with  an  intention  of  buying  the  printing  appara 
tus  of  a  tory  printer,  who  was  about  to  suspend  his 
business  in  that  city.  When  he  was  near  the  boundary 
between  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  he  was  over 
taken  by  Gen.  Putnam,  who  was  on  horseback,  with  a 
daughter  behind  him  on  a  pillion.  He  made  himself 
known  to  the  General,*  and  they  held  several  conversa 
tions,  passing  each  other  frequently  on  the  road,  till  they 
reached  Pomfret.  The  General  invited  him  to  his 
house,  where  he  spent  one  night  and  then  renewed  his 
journey.  He  was  eight  days  walking  from  Boston  to 
New- York,  and  lived  chiefly  on  pudding  and  milk  at  the 
houses  of  the  farmers  on  the  road.  He  arrived  in  New- 
York  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  November,  just  as 
the  American  army  took  possession  of  the  city,  and 
while  the  British  army  and  the  Tories  were  getting  on 
board  the  fleet,  that  was  to  take  them  to  Halifax. 

The  scene,  which  New  York  at  this  time  presented, 
Russell  often  described  with  great  enthusiasm.  "  So  great 
was  the  feeling  of  hostility  and  hatred  towards  the 

*  "  The  first  time  I  saw  Gen.  Putnam  (said  Russell)  he  was  on  the  Neck,  lead 
ing  from  Cambridge  to  Charlestown,  on  the  day  of  the  Battle  on  Breed's  Hill. 
There  were  British  ships  of  war  on  either  side  of  the  Neck,  stationed  there  to 
prevent  reinforcements  from  going  on  to  the  Hill.  All  was  consternation  and 
excitement,  —  till  Gen.  Putnam  was  seen  coming  from  Cambridge  on  a  full  gallop, 
with  his  cocked  hat  on  side-ways,  cheering  up  and  encouraging  the  men.  We 
boys,  myself  and  companions,  as  well  as  the  men,  gave  loud  and  hearty  cheers 
for  Old  Put.  I  did  not  see  him  again  till  he  overtook  me  on  my  way  to  New- 
York." 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  11 

Tories,  that  Gen.  Washington  placed  sentinels  at  the 
doors  of  many  of  them  to  prevent  outrages  from  our 
men.  I  could  not  get  into  the  office  of  the  person  who 
owned  the  printing  materials,  that  I  was  in  pursuit  of,  till 
I  had  obtained  a  pass.  I  saw  the  ceremony  of  lowering 
the  British  flag  and  hoisting  that  of  the  United  States. 
The  American  army  with  Gen.  Washington  at  its  head, 
came  down  Broadway  and  filed  into  the  Park.  After 
the  line  was  formed,  the  British  flag  was  seen  to  descend 
slowly  and  the  American  to  rise.  When  they  met  on 
the  staff,  they  were  stopped  for  a  few  minutes.  The 
Yankees  felt  a  little  uncomfortable  at  this  delay,  fearing 
that  all  was  not  right.  But  the  flags  were  soon  in  mo 
tion  again.  The  American  ensign  floated  proudly  from 
the  top  of  the  staff,  and  that  of  the  British  sunk  among 
the  mass  of  heads  at  its  foot.  The  air  was  rent  with  the 
most  enthusiastic  acclamations.  I  suppose  the  two  flags 
were  stopped  when  they  met  each  other  on  their  pas 
sage,  to  give  them  a  chance  to  shake  hands  and  kiss." 

Before  Russell  arrived  in  New- York,  the  press  and 
types,  which  he  had  intended  to  purchase,  were  sent  off 
to  Halifax  by  their  owner.  The  object  of  his  journey 
being  thus  defeated,  he  returned  to  Boston,  and  renewed 
his  attempts  to  procure  the  materials  necessary  for  the 
printing  of  a  newspaper.  He  succeeded  in  procuring  a 
small  fount  of  Long  Primer  and  another  of  Pica,  with  a 
few  alphabets  of  a  larger  size,  and  immediately  issued  a 
proposal  for  the  publication  of  the  "  Massachusetts  Cen- 
tinel."  Before  that  publication  began,  an  incident  oc 
curred,  that  developed  a  prominent  trait  in  his  charac 
ter, —  namely,  the  irresistible  impulse  to  do  what  he 
thought  was  right,  and  the  readiness  to  retract  his  steps 
whenever  he  was  convinced  that  he  had  done  wrong. 


12  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

Samuel  Adams,  the  renowned  and  proscribed  patriot 
of  the  revolution,  it  is  well  known,  was  strongly  opposed 
to  the  institution  of  the  Society  of  Cincinnati.  Like 
many  other  good  patriots  and  honest  men,  he  thought  he 
saw  in  it  the  germ  of  an  order  of  nobility,  that  might  tend 
eventually  to  the  establishment  of  a  military  despotism. 
Knowing  that  Russell  was  about  to  publish  a  paper,  he 
called  on  him,  stated  his  views  of  the  subject,  and  urged 
him  to  take  a  decided  stand  against  the  organization  of 
the  society.  Russell,  ever  ready  to  follow  the  advice 
of  men,  whose  character  and  experience  had  given  them 
influence,  listened  to  the  representations  and  arguments 
of  Mr.  Adams ;  and,  without  waiting  to  unburden  his 
mind  in  his  contemplated  journal,  forthwith  issued  a 
pamphlet,  embodying  the  views  of  his  venerable  monitor, 
with  such  comments  and  remarks  as  his  own  imagination 
suggested.  The  pamphlet  had  hardly  made  its  appear 
ance  in  public,  when  Russell  was  visited  by  three  or 
four  gentlemen,  who  took  a  different  view  of  the  matter, 
to  remonstrate  against  the  publication.  To  their  inquiry, 
"Who  wrote  thepamphktr'  he  replied,  "Nobody  wrote  it. 
I  stood  at  the  case,  and  composed  it,  mentally  as  well  as 
mechanically."  An  explanation  followed,  in  which  he 
frankly  disclosed  the  conversation,  in  which  the  idea  of  the 
publication  originated,  and  the  motive,  that  induced  him 
to  make  it.  His  visiters  assure'd  him  that  the  information, 
on  which  he  had  acted  was  erroneous,  —  that  the  object  of 
the  society  was  not  merely  harmless  but  patriotic  and  be 
nevolent,  —  and  told  him  (what  it  seems  he  had  no  suspi 
cion  of  before)  that  Gen.  Washington  was  one  of  its  ori 
ginal  members  and  its  first  officer.  This  was  quite  enough 
for  Russell,  whose  veneration  of  Washington  was  little 
less  than  adoration.  He  could  not  believe  that  any  thing 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL. 


13 


of  evil  character  or  tendency  could  proceed  from  an 
institution  with  Washington  at  its  head,  or  that  aught  but 
good  would  result  from  any  proceeding,  that  had  the 
sanction  of  that  immortal  name.  He  ran  to  every  place 
where  his  pamphlet  had  been  left  for  sale,  and  recalled 
every  unsold  copy.  But  very  few  had  been  sold,  and 
those,  where  the  purchaser  could  be  found,  were  bought 
up  and  the  whole  edition  was  destroyed.  It  is  not 
known  that  a  single  copy  escaped.  He  was  ever  after 
wards  a  strong  and  able  defender  of  the  society. 

At  length,  on  the  twenty-fourth  of  March,  1784,  the 
proposed  paper  made  its  appearance,  entitled 

THE  MASSACHUSETTS  CENTINEL, 

AND   THE 

REPUBLICAN  JOURNAL. 

Uninfluenced  by  Party,  we  aim  to  be  just. 


The  lines  which  form  the  title,  motto,  and  imprint, 
were  separated  in  the  centre  by  the  device  here  given, 
2 


14  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

but  which  is  not  any  where  explained  ;  perhaps  the  de 
sign  is  too  apparent  to  need  explanation.  The  form 
was  impressed  on  a  half  sheet  of  demy  paper,  and  was 
made  up  in  four  pages,  quarto,  with  three  columns  on  a 
page.  The  type  was  Pica  and  Long  Primer.  The 
head  lines  of  the  various  departments,  which  marked  the 
character  of  the  miscellaneous  materials,  that  filled  up 
those  several  portions,  as  well  as  some  important  lines  in 
advertisements,  were  displayed  in  larger  letters ;  but 
nothing  smaller  than  Long  Primer  appeared  in  the  paper 
for  more  than  two  years.  The  title,  including  the  cut, 
occupied  nearly  a  third  of  the  first  page  ;  and  the  follow 
ing  Address  filled  the  remainder :  — 

A  Free  uninfluenced  Newspaper. 
To  the  candid  Public. 

When  the  benign  and  cheering  influence  of  the  cherub  PEACE  is 
daily  spreading  her  delectable  blessings  over  this  New  World  :  —  When 
arts  and  sciences,  (its  ever  attending  guests)  the  foster-parents  of  liberty, 
are  dispelling  the  gloomy  atmosphere  of  war,  and  enlightening  man 
kind  with  liberality  of  sentiment,  every  vehicle  propitious  to  the  design 
should  be  put  in  motion,  and  every  exertion  strained  to  second  the 
undertaking. 

The  liberty  of  the  press  is  the  surest  bulwark  of  the  people's  rights  : 
A  privilege  to  mankind  which  tyrannical  monarchs  have  beheld  with 
horror,  and  often  attempted  to  annihilate.  Superstition  and  ignorance 
have  dissipated  into  obscurity,  as  the  balmy  rays  of  this  institution 
have  shed  their  benignity  over  the  civilized  world :  In  short,  its  utility 
is  so  well  known  and  experienced  by  the  freemen  of  these  United 
States,  that  it  would  be  passing  an  ill  compliment  on  the  judgement 
were  we  to  enter  into  lengthy  panegyrics  on  its  usefulness. 

These  considerations  —  an  inclination  to  be  useful  in  the  business  we 
profess  —  and  a  desire  to  obtain  a  competency  for  our  support,  have 
induced  us  to  lay  before  a  candid  and  judicious  public,  the  following 
proposals  for  publishing,  every  Wednesday  and  Saturday,  The 
MASSACHUSETTS   CENTINEL: 

AND    THE 

REPUBLICAN  JOURNAL. 


WARDEN    AND    RUSSELL.  15 

CONDITIONS. 

I.  This  paper  shall  be  printed  with  a  legible  type,  on  good  paper,  to 
contain  four  quarto  pages,  demi. 

II.  The  price  of  this  paper  [will]  be  Twdve  Shillings,  the  year,  one 
quarter  to  be  paid  on  subscribing.     If  agreeable  to  the  custom  in  the 
cities  of  London,  New-York  and  Philadelphia,  the  subscribers  should 
choose  to  pay  per  number,  the  price  will  be  Two  Pence. 

III.  The  papers  in  the  town  of  Boston,  shall  be  delivered  to  the 
subscribers  as  early  as  possible  on  publication  days. 

IV.  Advertisements  shall  be  inserted  at  as  low  a  price  as  is  de 
manded  by  any  of  their  brethren  in  the  art,  and  continued,  if  desired 
in  Six  Numbers. 

V.  Gentlemen  in  the  country  may  be  supplied  with  this  paper  at  the 
above  price,  (postage  excepted)  which  is  cheaper  than  any  other  papers, 
if  the  advantage  of  receiving  them  twice  in  the  week  is  considered. 

The  publishers  engage  to  use  every  effort  to  obtain,  and  the  most 
scrutinous  circumspection  in  collecting  whatever  may  be  thought  of 
public  utility,  or  private  amusement:  Variety  shall  be  courted  in  all 
its  shapes,  in  the  importance  of  political  information  —  in  the  spright- 
liness  of  mirth  —  in  the  playful  levity  of  imagination  —  in  the  just 
severity  of  satire  —  in  the  vivacity  of  ridicule  —  in  the  luxuriance  of 
poetry  —  and  in  the  simplicity  of  truth.  We  shall  examine  the  regula 
tions  of  office  with  candor  —  approve  with  pleasure  —  or  condemn  with 
boldness.  Uninfluenced  by  party,  we  aim  only  to  be  just. 

The  assistance  of  the  learned,  the  judicious  and  the  curious  is  solicited : 
Productions  of  public  utility,  however  severe,  if  consistent  with  truth, 
shall  be  admitted;  and  the  modest  correspondent  may  depend  on  the 
strictest  secrecy.  Reservoirs  will  be  established  in  public  houses  for  the 
reception  of  information,  whether  foreign,  local,  or  poetical. 

Anxious  to  deserve,  they  hope  a  display  of  that  patronage  and  assist 
ance,  which  the  people  of  these  States  are  celebrated  for  bestowing  on 
the  exertions  of  young  beginners.  And  finally,  if  their  abilities  should 
be  inadequate,  it  will  at  least  be  some  recompense,  that  such  as  they 
have  shall  be  exerted  with  candor. 

W.  WARDEN, 
B.  RUSSELL. 

On  the  last  page  of  the  paper,  is  the  following  article, 
which,  if  the  words  "  Poetical  Correspondence"  were 
not  placed  over  it,  would  be  attributed  to  Russell  as  the 


16  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

author.     If  not  original,  it  was  subjected  to  the  process 
of  adaptation  :  *  — 

To  preserve  a  similitude  of  publication  in  our  introductory  numbers,  we  have 
inserted  the  following :  — 

THE    NEWSPAPER. 

Did  you  ne'er  see  a  Hawk  or  Kite, 
With  rapid  wings  first  take  its  flight  ? 
Then  hovering  round  the  field  or  spray, 
Souse  down  at  once  and  seize  his  prey. 

The  Politician  thus  you  spy, 
Tripping  to  Coffee  House  just  by ; 
And  fixing  on  the  NEWS  his  eyes, 
With  greediness  enjoys  the  prize ; 
Then  home  return  with  head  quite  full  — 
Extremely  wise  —  extremely  dull, 
Assumes  political  capacity, 
And  deals  out  news  with  great  sagacity : 
Of  all  the  senates  of  the  States, 
He  tells  their  motions  and  debates  : 
Tells  where  the  Congress  will  remain, 
And  who  's  the  President  from  Spain  ; 
How  New- York  whigs  the  tories  plague, 
Who  's  our  Ambassador  at  the  Hague. 
His  hearers  all  admire  his  sense, 
And  wonder  at  the  intelligence. 
At  night  the  Club  enjoys  his  gleanings, 
Assertions,  observations,  meanings : 
The  fearful  shrug  —  the  knitted  brow  — 
The  fact  —  the  place  —  the  when  —  the  how. 

We  (say  with  def 'rence  to  the  college,) 
News-Papers  are  the  spring  of  knowledge ; 
The  general  source  throughout  the  nation, 
Of  every  modern  conversation. 
What  would  this  mighty  people  do, 
If  there,  alas  !  was  nothing  new  ? 
We  tell  you  Patrons  what  relates 
To  make  us  formidable  States  : 

*  A  part  of  this  article  was  published  in  the  Massachusetts  Mercury,  more  than 
ten  years  after  its  appearance  in  the  Centinel,  as  "  From  an  English  Paper." 


WARDEN    AND     RUSSELL.  17 

We  tell  how  Europe's  balance  stands, 
How  Russia's  Queen  the  Turks  commands 
How  Popish  power  hath  dissipated, 
And  Frederick  just  annihilated. 

Our  services  you  can't  express, 
The  good  we  do  you  hardly  guess  ; 
There  's  scarce  a  want  of  human  kind, 
But  we  a  remedy  can  find. 
If  any  gentleman  wants  a  wife, 
A  partner  (as  'tis  term'd)  for  life, 
An  Advertisement  docs  the  thing, 
And  quickly  will  the  party  bring. 
Lands  may  be  had ;  if  you  would  buy, 
We  tell  you  where  you  may  apply : 
Goods  of  all  sorts  where  bought,  where  sold : 
Houses  to  purchase  new  and  old. 
Ships,  Shops,  of  ev'ry  shape  and  form, 
Carriages,  horses,  servants  swarm. 
No  matter  whether  good  or  bad, 
We  tell  you  where  they  may  be  had. 

If  you  want  money  you  '11  be  serv'd, 
And  strictest  secrecy  observ'd. 
The  sum  you  ask  will  strait  be  lent, 
At  the  small  sum  of  cent  per  cent. 

A  NEWS-PAPER  is  like  a  feast, 
Some  dish  there  is  for  ev'ry  guest. 
Some  large,  some  small,  some  strong,  some  tender, 
For  ev'ry  stomach,  stout  or  slender : 
Those  who  roast  beef  and  ale  delight  in, 
Are  pleas'd  with  trumpets,  drums  and  fighting. 
For  those  who  are  more  puny  made, 
Are  arts,  and  sciences,  and  trade ; 
For  fanciful  and  am'rous  blood, 
We  have  a  soft  poetic  food ; 
For  witty  and  satiric  folks, 
High-season'd,  acid,  bitter  jokes ; 
And  when  we  strive  to  please  the  mob, 
A  jest,  a  quarrel,  or  a  jobb. 

The  inside  pages  contain  an  article  of  news  from  a 
London  paper  of  December  21,  —  an  article  on  Filial 


18  MASSACHUSETTS     CENTINEL. 

Piety,  under  the  head  of  "  Food  for  Sentimentalists,"  — 
an  extract  of  a  letter  from  Port  Roseway,  —  "  Marine 
matters,"  making  about  a  square,  —  an  official  Notice 
from  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth,  —  an  adver 
tisement  of  a  dealer  in  Painter's  oil  and  colors,  —  and 
three  or  four  paragraphs  under  the  Boston  head,  of  which 
the  following  is  the  first :  — 

The  general  topics  of  political  disquisition  in  the  several  States,  are 
the  commutation,  or  five  years  pay  of  the  officers  of  the  army — and 
the  admittance  of  the  refugees.  The  former,  as  it  is  consistent  with 
justice,  must  be  certainly  adopted:  —  The  latter  occasions  various 
speculations,  and  much  division  —  while  some  are  very  strenuous 
against  their  re-admittance,  from  political  principles  —  others  assert 
that  it  will  be  sound  policy  in  permitting  them  to  return,  as  the  wealth 
they  will  bring  will  more  than  counterbalance  the  detriment  they  can 
possibly  be  of.  Whether  the  discussion  will  be  of  public  benefit,  or 
not,  time,  the  great  revealer  of  things,  must  determine.  As  the  citi 
zens  of  one  Sate  have  a  right  to  resort  to,  and  settle  in  any  in  the  con 
federation  —  their  being  naturalized  in  any  one  State,  will  entirely  frus 
trate  the  intentions  of  those  who  declare  against  their  admittance,  and 
must  produce  animosities.  Though  monarchical  government  is  never 
to  be  wished,  the  above  shows  the  weakness  of  democracy. 

In  another  paragraph,  the  editors  said,  —  "  The  excel 
lent  Legendary  Tale  of  Armine  and  Elvira,  a  most 
exquisite  repast  for  Sentimentalists  and  the  Lovers  of 
poetical  numbers,  will  be  begun  in  our  Saturday's  Centi- 
nel,  and  continued  numerically.  We  shall  devote  a 
corner  to  their  amusement,  and  the  Centinel  being  printed 
in  a  form,  which,  when  bound,  will  make  a  handsome 
volume,  we  doubt  not  our  kind  customers  will  find  that 
the  matters  in  them  are  well  worth  their  money,  as  a 
year's  papers  will  contain,  besides  intelligence,  what, 
printed  separate,  would  sell  for  two  guineas."  There 
was  nothing  here  promised,  that  was  not  performed. 
Beside  the  Legendary  Tale,  alluded  to,  which  filled 


WARDEN    AND    RUSSELL.  19 

nearly  two  columns  in  each  of  six  papers,  most  of  the 
poems  of  Goldsmith,  Cunningham's  Pastorals,  extracts 
from  Cotton,  Gray,  Cowper,  and  a  large  portion  of  the 
Narrative  of  Cook's  Voyages,  were  published  in  the 
course  of  the  first  year.  At  first,  and  for  many  subse 
quent  years,  the  Centinel  of  Saturday  was  always  sup 
plied  with  an  article  of  a  moral  and  religious  character,  — 
sometimes  original,  but  generally  selected,  —  under  the 
head  of  "Preparation  for  Sunday."  The  department 
appropriated  to  poetry,  was  called  "  Sentimental  Re 
past,"  "  Heliconian  Reservoir,"  and  sometimes  "  Senti 
mental  Sustenance."  Occasionally  the  contents  of  this 
column,  —  the  first  column  on  the  fourth  page,  —  were 
described  by  a  single  word,  in  large  capitals,  significant 
of  their  character ;  as  Moral,  Prophetic,  Descriptive, 
Sentimental,  &c.  Another  department,  consisting  of 
selections  of  prose  articles,  was  entitled  "  Food  for  Sen 
timentalists."  A  collection  of  short  anecdotes  appeared 
as  "  Entertainment  for  the  Disciples  of  Zeno,"  and  ex 
tracts  or  communications  of  a  didactic  or  scientific  char 
acter,  were  placed  under  "  Food  for  Enquiring  Minds." 
In  short,  every  thing,  whether  original  or  selected,  was 
supposed  to  be  placed  in  its  appropriate  column,  and 
every  article  seemed  to  wear  its  appropriate  and  descrip 
tive  title,  except  the  editorial  paragraphs  under  the  Bos 
ton  head.  These  were  all  huddled  together  without  re 
gard  to  subject.  An  item  of  news,  foreign  or  domestic, 
an  accident,  a  death,  a  marriage,  a  note  to  a  correspond 
ent,  an  advertisement,  and  an  arrival  of  a  ship,  were 
often  thus  thrown  together  in  half  a  column,  and  no  one 
would  imagine,  till  he  should  have  made  some  progress 
in  the  reading  of  it,  that  it  embraced  more  than  one 
topic. 


20  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

In  the  second  number  of  the  Centinel  the  editors  pub 
lished  a  paragraph,  —  the  first,  under  the  Boston  head, 
saying,  —  "  The  talk  of  the  day  is  Cincinnati.  What 
ever  may  be  the  intention  of  the  orignal  design  —  or 
whatever  consequences  may  possibly  result  from  the 
continuance  of  that  institution,  one  circumstance  that 
greatly  recommends  it,  is,  that  His  Excellency  GEORGE 
WASHINGTON,  Esq.  is  President-General  of  that  So 
ciety."  Soon  after,  Washington's  Circular  to  the  state 
societies,  and  the  Constitution  of  the  parent  society, 
were  published  in  the  Centinel,  —  indicating  that  the 
advice  and  opinion  of  Mr.  S.  Adams,  had  no  power  to 
produce  in  Russell's  mind  any  prejudice  unfavorable  to 
the  Cincinnati. 

The  advertising  patronage  of  the  Centinel  was  riot 
large  during  the  first  year,  notwithstanding  that  it  was 
solicited  in  the  standing  imprint,  which  declared  — 
11  Advertisements  are  inserted  at  the  usual  price  in  the 
Centinel,  which,  from  its  portableness  and  circulation,  is 
rendered  very  advantageous  :  They  will  likewise  be  set 
off  with  taste,  adorned  with  conspicuity,  and  inserted  6 
Numbers."  The  Ship  News,  which  is  now  so  prominent 
a  feature  in  all  commercial  papers,  ordinarily  occupied 
about  a  square.  The  arrivals  and  clearances  seldom 
numbered  more  than  five  or  six  in  each  paper. 

The  correspondents  of  the  Centinel  were  numerous, 
and  many  of  their  contributions,  especially  those  on  pol 
itics  and  morals,  were  written  with  strength  and  propriety. 
The  editors  took  a  noble  stand  in  favor  of  protection  to 
all  domestic  manufactures  arid  the  products  of  agriculture 
and  the  mechanic  arts.  As  a  matter  of  course  they 
were  opposed  to  the  importation  of  British  goods,  by 
British  factors  and  agents,  many  of  whom  attempted  to 


WARDEN    AND   RUSSELL.  21 

establish  themselves  in  Boston,  and  to  push  off  the 
products  of  their  manufactories,  to  the  injury  of  the 
American  producer  and  importer.  The  editors  and  sev 
eral  of  their  correspondents  attempted,  both  by  ridicule 
and  serious  argument,  to  discourage  this  trade.  During 
the  years  1784  and  1785,  several  public  meetings  were 
held  to  deliberate  on  this  subject  and  to  adopt  measures 
of  relief.  A  meeting  of  merchants,  mechanics,  and 
traders  at  Faneuil  Hall,  voted,  "  That  we  do  pledge  our 
honor,  that  we  will  not  directly  or  indirectly,  purchase 
any  goods  of,  or  have  any  commercial  connections  what 
ever,  with,  such  British  merchants,  agents,  or  factors,  as 
are  now  residing  among  us,  or  may  hereafter  arrive," 
&c. :  and  voted,  also,  "  That  we  will  not  let,  or  sell, 
any  warehouse,  shop,  house,  or  any  other  place,  for  the 
sale  of  such  goods,  nor  will  we  employ  any  persons,  who 
will  assist  said  merchants,  factors,  or  agents,  by  trucks, 
carts,  barrows,  or  labor,  (except  in  the  reshipment  of 
their  merchandize)  but  will  discountenance  all  such  per 
sons,  who  shall  in  any  way  advise,  or  in  the  least  degree 
help  or  support  such  merchants,  factors,  or  agents,  in  the 
prosecution  of  their  business ;  as  we  conceive  all  such 
British  importations  are  calculated  to  drain  us  of  our 
currency,  and  have  a  direct  tendency  to  impoverish  this 
country." 

Notwithstanding  measures  of  this  description,  and  the 
strong  appeals  to  the  good  sense  and  patriotism  of  the 
people,  made  in  the  newspapers,  there  were  many  per 
sons  who  disregarded  them,  and  persisted  in  practising 
on  the  free  trade  doctrines  of  that  day.  The  Centinel 
raised  its  warning  voice  in  the  following  manner :  — 

Commerce  has  extended  her  blessings  upon  us,  in  a  manner  unprece 
dented  in  history ;  and  had  she  not  been  so  liberal,  her  votaries  per- 


22  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

haps  would  have  found  it  more  to  their  advantage.  Though  these  pro 
ductions  of  foreigners  may  be  purchased  at  very  low  prices,  yet  as  they 
are  mere  superfluities,  every  one,  possessed  of  republican  principles, 
must  feel  anxiety,  at  seeing  such  vast  hoards  of  specie  daily  leaving  the 
continent  as  remittances.  Will  we  impoverish  ourselves  ?  Or  will  we 
part  with  that  which  can  be  of  no  advantage  to  us  1  —  Are  questions 
that  ought  to  be  weighed  in  the  impartial  scale,  that  should  ever  occupy 
the  breast  of  a  friend  to  the  prosperity  of  his  country.  The  fair  Amer 
ican,  conscious  of  the  service  she  can  do  her  country  by  a  little  self- 
denial,  will,  we  doubt  not,  dispense  with  that  ostentatious  pageantry, 
now  so  much  in  vogue,  when  they  consider  likewise,  that  they  are  cal 
culated  only  to  give  a,  fashionable  grace  to  the  want  of  beauty.  For 

The  beauteous  female,  unadorn'd  and  plain, 
Secure  to  please,  while  youth  confirms  her  reign, 
Slights  every  borrow'd  charm,  that  dress  supplies, 
Nor  shares  with  art  the  triumph  of  her  eyes. 

The  softer  sex  did,  during  the  revolution,  display  virtues,  honorary 
as  they  were  useful :  And  shall  it  ever  be  said  that  meagre  want,  and 
cold-handed  poverty  stalked  through  our  country,  occasioned  by  the  in 
ordinate  desire  of  its  inhabitants  for  foreign  gewgaws. 

[June  12,  1784.] 

That  no  nation  can  ever  be  rich  or  powerful  Avhose  imports  EXCEED 
their  exports,  is  a  fact  not  to  be  controverted.  It  is  a  melancholy 
truth  that  at  present  our  imports  far  exceed  our  exports  ;  and  should 
this  continue  to  be  the  case,  cold  poverty  will  soon  stare  us  in  the  face, 
and  the  gaudy  trifles  we  now  import  from  Britain  (which  we  are  fool 
ishly  fond  of,  and  for  which  we  pay  solid  coin)  will  leave  us,  and  vanish 
like  a  vapor  before  the  rising  sun.  Rags,  or  nakedness  must  supply 
their  place,  and  we  too  late  must  mourn  our  folly. 

[January  5,  1785.] 

At  the  close  of  the  first  volume,  September  18,  1784, 
the  subscribers  to  the  Centinel  were  again  addressed  in 
rhyme  thus :  — 

The  CENTINEL,  to  its  Patrons  of  every  Denomination. 
With  plays  it  hath  been  long  in  vogue 
To  finish  with  an  epilogue, 
To  bring  in  view  the  many  clauses, 
They  wish  may  gain  the  best  applauses, 
And  show,  by  dint  of  magic  art, 
The  various  virtues  they  impart. 


WARDEN    AND    RUSSELL.  23 

The  Centinel,  you  well  might  say, 
Should  try  to  shun  this  oft-trod  way ; 
And  so  it  Avould.  if  it  could  find 
One,  that  would  better  suit  its  mind ; 
Or  else  adopt  the  part,  that 's  best, 
And  partly  throw  aside  the  rest ; 
With  modest  truth  to  partly  shew 
Its  matters  to  the  public  view, 
And  let  the  whole  be  judged  by  them  — 
They  must  applaud,  or  else  condemn. 

The  patrons  of  the  Centinel 
Its  origin  remember  well. 
"  To  captivate  the  curious  mind, 
"  And  make  the  funny  more  refined] 
"  To  amuse  the  pensive  —  and  the  sad, 
"  And  make  those  merry,  that  are  mac?." 
With  these  in  view,  it  first  began, 
(And  these  continue  still  its  plan,) 
Strove  ardently  in  many  a  strain, 
ALL  its  kind  readers'  praise  to  gain, 
With  various  themes,  —  some  wise,  —  some  dull,  — 
Some  serious,  —  some  with  satire  full,  — 
Some  things  for  those  in  merry  mood  — 
And  copious  sentimental  food : 
For  sober  lives  and  conversation, 
We  give  our  Sunday's  preparation ; 
State  politics  of  each  degree, 
Advertisements,  et  cetera, 

Whene'er  a  bowl  of  punch  we  make, 
Four  striking  opposites  we  take  ; 
The  strong,  the  small,  the  sour,  the  sweet, 
Together  mix'd,  must  jointly  meet; 
And  when  they  happily  unite, 
The  bowl  is  pregnant  with  delight. 
Thus  in  the  Centinel  you  find 
Its  matter  variously  inclined ; 
The  parts,  by  properly  sustaining, 
May  all  prove  highly  entertaining. 

Be  this  its  boast,  it  strove  to  gain 
Success,  (nor hath  it  strove  in  vain; ) 
The  Centinel  asks  leave  to  give, 
And  begs  its  patrons  to  receive, 


24  MASSACHUSETTS     CENTINEL. 

Its  thanks ;  and  only  will  observe 
Its  inclination  still  to  serve ; 
Requests,  e'en  though  its  merits  few, 
That  it  may  still  receive  its  due. 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  second  volume, 
the  second  title,  "  Republican  Journal,"  was  taken  from 
the  head.  The  motto  was  also  omitted.  The  title  was 
now  simply 

THE   MASSACHUSETTS   CENTINEL. 

At  each  end  of  the  line  was  a  device,  which  is  thus 
explained  :  —  "  The  first  represents  the  Genius  of  Amer 
ica,  seated  on  a  Pyramid  of  Thirteen  Ascents,  support 
ing  the  Cap  of  Liberty  on  a  Ball,  (emblamatic  of  her 
having  gained  it  by  war)  holding  in  her  hand  the  Olive 
Branch,  and  treading  on  the  Crown  and  Sceptre,  the 
ensigns  of  monarchy.  The  second  shows  the  Sun, 
breaking  through  and  dissipating  a  cloud,  approaching  a 
serene  sky,  and  shedding  its  influence  on  Arts,  Com 
merce,  and  Agriculture."  Here  is  an  exact  copy  of 
these  devices,  the  design  of  which,  it  must  be  confessed, 
could  hardly  be  imagined  without  the  original  explana 
tion. 


The  editors  of  the  Centinel  were  not  disposed  to 
favor  the  return  of  those  persons,  who,  during  the  war, 
had  left  the  country  and  resided  in  England,  or  her 
provinces.  Many  of  these  "  refugees "  petitioned  the 
Legislature  for  restoration  to  their  forfeited  privileges  of 


WARDEN    AND    RUSSELL.  25 

citizenship,  and  of  their  confiscated  property.  On  the 
propriety  of  granting  these  petitions,  public  opinion  was 
divided.  Some  writers  were  in  favor  of  adopting  lenient 
measures  towards  them,  while  others  were  disposed  to 
treat  them,  —  as  in  fact,  they  really  were,  —  as  outlaws 
and  renegades.  The  Centinel  of  May  12,  1784,  men 
tions  that  near  one  hundred  of  the  persons  included  in 
the  act  of  confiscation  and  banishment  in  South-Caro 
lina,  had  returned  and  been  admitted  to  citizenship  after 
being  "  amerced  12|  per  cent.  ;  "  and  adds,  that,  "  as 
other  legislatures  of  the  United  States  must  ere  long 
take  into  consideration  this  important  matter,  we  hope 
the  citizens  of  America  have,  or  will,  appoint  men  to 
determine  it,  whose  wisdom,  experience,  and  interest  are 
adequate  to  the  task."  Again,  in  August,  they  say, 
"  However  the  principles  of  common  benevolence,  and 
the  desire  of  curing  the  calamities  of  our  fellow-citizens, 
might  operate  in  favor  of  an  act  of  amnesty  and  natural 
ization  to  the  ill-fated  body  of  men,  the  refugees  ;  yet 
the  antipathies  nurtured  during  the  war  have  taken  so 
deep  a  root,  as  will,  we  are  apprehensive,  be  very  diffi 
cult  to  remove."  The  following  paragraph,  January  5, 
1785,  conveys  a  more  decided  expression  of  their  own 
opinion  in  relation  to  this  subject :  — 

The  joy  of  the  refugees  at  Nova- Scotia  on  the  arrival  of  their  new 
governor,  Carleton,  speaks,  in  very  plain  language,  the  disagreeableness 
of  their  situation.  They  now  solicit  relief  from  calamities  which  they 
justly  merit,  and  which  their  crimes  deserve.  The  sanguinary  conduct 
of  theirs,  respecting  the  Americans,  is  sufficient  to  eradicate  from  our 
breasts  every  sentiment,  with  regard  to  them,  of  pity  or  commiseration. 
In  vain  do  they  wish  to  avert  the  punishment  that  awaits  them.  It  is 
the  sure  consequence  of  their  conduct,  and  they  must  submit  to  it. 
With  respect  to  redress,  in  a  change  of  their  rulers,  duped  as  they  are, 
we  think  the  following  lines  not  inapplicable  :  — 
3 


26  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

The  ass  may  carry  brooms  or  men, 

Just  at  his  master's  will ; 
But  let  him  change  and  change  again, 

His  lot 's  a  burthen  still. 

During  its  first  year,  the  Centinel  was  the  vehicle  of 
an  amusing,  though  rather  an  angry  controversy,  in  which 
some  pretty  severe  personal  epithets  were  used  by  both 
parties,  and  which,  almost  at  its  very  outset  produced  a 
personal  rencontre  with  the  editors.  It  appears  that 
early  in  the  winter  or  in  the  autumn  of  1784,  a  portion 
of  the  gentlemen  and  ladies  of  the  town  had  associated, 
and  formed  what  was  called  in  their  advertisements, 
"  The  Tea  Assembly,"  to  meet  at  regular  periods  at 
Concert  Hall.  The  "  assembly "  was  also  known  by 
the  name  of  "  Sans  Souci,  or  Free  and  Easy"  The 
name,  or  the  reported  amusements  of  the  assembly,  be 
came  the  topic  of  public  animadversion,  and  "  The 
Observer,"  a  periodical  writer,  in  the  Centinel,  spoke  of 
it  as  an  tc  assembly  totally  repugnant  to  virtue ; "  — 
"  throwing  aside  every  necessary  restraint,  those  being 
esteemed  the  politest  who  are  the  most  careless  ;  —  and 
the  most  genteel  and  accomplished,  who  can,  like  the 
figures  at  a  masquerade,  mix  in  each  scene,  however 
devoid  of  delicacy,"  &c. ;  and  concluded  by  hoping 
that  the  citizens  would  unanimously  exert  themselves  to 
give  a  check  to  so  injurious  an  institution.  The  Centi 
nel  of  Saturday,  January  15,  1785,  came  out  with  the 
following  advertisement :  — 

A  new  FARCE. 

On  Monday  morning  next  will  be  published, 
SANS  SOTJCI,  alias,  Free  and  Easy:  —  Or,  An  Evening's  Peep  into  a 

Polite  Circle.    An  entire  new  Entertainment,  in  three  acts. 

The  above  publication  is  designed  more  to  present  what  is  likely  to 
take  place,  from  the  institution  of  the  late  Assembly  held  at  C 


WARDEN    AND    RUSSELL.  27 

Hall,  designated  by  the  appellation,  than  what  has  hitherto  existed. 
The  characters  exhibited,  and  the  circumstances  mentioned,  are  mostly 
imaginary,  and  are  intended  rather  to  satirize  the  measure  than  to  point 
at  particular  persons :  However,  as  all  publications  of  this  nature, 
cannot  but  fall  in  some  degree  on  certain  characters,  if  this  should  be 
considered  as  too  pointed,  on  any  individuals,  the  author  can  only  plead 
the  apology,  that  he  is  sorry  that  the  portrait  can  not  be  softened  down 
to  a  more  agreeable  likeness. 

Printed  and  sold  by  the  Printers  hereof. 

The  next  paper,  Wednesday,  January  19,  had  on  its 
first  page,  an  address  to  the  Public,  printed  in  Pica  Italic, 
of  which  the  following  is  a  part :  — 

A  few  days  since  we  were  requested  to  publish  a  small  performance 
on  the  institution  of  the  Sans  Souci.  After  carefully  perusing  it,  and 
perceiving  it  to  be  only  intended  to  display  the  dangerous  tendency  of 
that  society,  not  the  vehicle  of  personal  abuse,  (as  has  been  too  com 
mon)  we  determined  to  publish  it  and  advertised  our  intentions  of  so 
doing.  This  roused  the  passions  of  those  who  conceived  themselves 
deserving  the  lash  of  satire,  and  urged  them  to  endeavor  to  suppress 
it  in  embryo.  A  variety  of  injuries  was  threatened  us,  if  we  persisted 
in  our  determination  of  publishing  it.  In  the  afternoon  of  Saturday 
we  were  waited  upon  by  Mr.  Samuel  Jarvis,  who  desired  to  speak  with 
one  of  us  in  another  apartment;  being  attended  thither,  he  demanded 
to  know  whether  or  not  we  intended  publishing  '  A  Farce,'  and  being 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  exclaimed,  "  By  God  I  '11  kill  you  if  you 
do,"  and  endeavored  to  put  his  threat  into  execution,  but  found  his 
efforts  inadequate  to  the  task. 

To  the  public  we  leave  it  to  make  what  comments  they  please,  on 
this  high-handed  affair,  but  if  (as  our  brother  Edes  observes  on  the 
matter)  '  a  Printer,  for  advertising  that  he  intends  to  publish  a  certain 
book  for  the  information  or  merely  the  amusement  or  innocent  diver 
sion  of  his  fellow  citizens,  is  to  be  beset  and  abused  by  a  set  of  club 
men,  because  the  Title-Page  does  not  happen  to  hit  their  taste,  we  may 
take  a  farewell  of  our  independence  which  we  have  gloriously  obtained, 
not  without  great  expense  of  our  treasure,  and  the  loss  of  some  of  our 
best  blood.' 

We  return  our  thanks  for  the  assistance  that  has  been  offered  us  by 
several  patriotick  gentlemen.  They  may  depend,  that  avoiding  per 
sonal  scurrility  and  local  scandal,  we  are  determined  our  PRESS 
SHALL  EVER  BE  FREE. 

The  motto  we  have  adopted  of  being  'uninfluenced  by  party'  &c. 


28  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

shall  be  strictly  adhered  to ;  and  while  we  keep  within  the  limits  pre 
scribed  by  the  laws  of  our  country,  the  threats  of  sanguinary  assassins, 
will  ever  be  considered  as  impotent  and  innoxious. 

WARDEN  &  RUSSELL. 

This  rencontre  did  not  stop  the  publication  of  the 
book,  nor  put  an  end  to  the  controversy.  Several  writ 
ers  came  out  on  both  sides,  who  treated  each  other  with 
very  little  ceremony.  The  Observer  was  accused  of 
envy,  falsehood,  bigotry,  misanthropy,  and  malice.  He 
replied,  and  gave  an  abstract  of  the  rules  of  the  assem 
bly,  to  show  that  "  Gentlemen  of  nineteen,  and  Ladies 
of  fifteen  were  admitted,"  and  that  "  the  entertainment 
was  made  up  of  music,  dancing,  tea,  coffee,  chocolate, 
cards,  wine,  negus,  punch,  and  lemonade."  On  the 
whole,  he  maintained  his  position  with  the  best  temper, 
and,  in  the  end,  appeared  to  have  gained  a  triumph. 

A  controversy  of  a  different  complexion  made  some 
noise  in  Boston  during  the  winter  of  1784-5,  and  the 
columns  of  the  Centinel  afford  some  amusing  communi 
cations  on  the  subject,  —  which  was  the  removal  of  the 
Rev.  Peter  Thacher  from  his  pastoral  charge  in  Maiden 
to  that  of  the  church  in  Brattle-street,  Boston.  The 
removals  of  ministers  from  one  parish  to  another  were 
not  quite  so  frequent  then  as  they  have  since  become. 
Such  changes  then  were  as  rare  as  divorces  of  man  and 
wife;  —  now,  they  are  as  common,  almost,  as  the  ex 
change  of  one  mercantile  commodity  for  another.  The 
Centinel  of  December  15,  has  the  following  sly  hit  at 
its  Brattle-street  neighbors  :  — 

Christ's  wealthy  church  in  Br — tie-street, 
His  poorer  flock  in  M — Id — n  greet, 
With  hearts  brimfull  of  Christian  love, 
They  wish  them  blessings  from  above. 


WARDEN    AND    RUSSELL.  29 

Dear  Sirs,  of  late  we  've  lost  our  pastor, 
And  mourn  sincere  the  sore  disaster ; 
Because  we  clearly  can  foresee 
Our  sheep  much  scattered  will  be, 
Unless  we  should,  of  God's  free  grace, 
A  shepherd  get  to  fill  his  place. 

Now,  having  sought  divine  direction, 
We  thought  it  fit,  on  due  reflection, 
To  tempt  the  parson  of  your  church 
To  leave  his  people  in  the  lurch ; 
Though  few  have  heard  him  scarcely  thrice, 
Yet  most  believe  he  preaches  nice, 
And  is  a  man,  that 's  fitted  quite 
To  make  us  all  in  him  unite. 
On  trial  fair,  we  plainly  find, 
Our  pious  scheme  well  suits  his  mind ; 
Then  what  remains  for  us  to  do, 
But  settle  matters  right  with  you  ? 
Sure,  if  you  cannot  him  maintain, 
Of  us  you  ought  not  to  complain  ; 
Now  therefore  send  him  off  to  us, 
And  we  will  fill  his  mouth  and  purse  ; 
The  cash  you  owe  him,  as  'tis  said, 
Shall  very  cheerfully  be  paid ; 
Another  preacher  should  you  want, 
A  settlement  for  him  we  '11  grant ; 
Thus  to  the  world  we  '11  fully  show, 
That  nought  but  honor  we  've  in  view ; 
Yet  stronger  arguments  than  these 
We  can  produce  with  greater  ease, 
And  make  it  clear  that  we  are  right, 
And  act  by  help  of  Gospel  light. 

From  best  of  men,  we  often  hear, 
That  you  've  no  souls  to  save,  (they  fear;) 
That  parts  like  his  in  napkin  lay, 
So  long  as  he  shall  with  you  stay ; 
Much  time  among  you  he  has  taught, 
And  labored  all  that  while  for  nought ; 
To  church  no  single  soul  could  add, 
To  make  his  pious  heart  "  full  glad." 
But,  in  this  place,  his  talents  Jive, 
To  occupy  would  make  us  thrive  ; 
3* 


30  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

From  day  to  day  our  church  would  grow, 
And  make  at  last  a  goodly  show. 
These  weighty  reasons,  as  we  trust, 
You  '11  plainly  see  are  good  and  just, 
And  freely  grant  us  our  request, 
Because  we  think  it  for  the  best. 

And  now  we  all,  with  one  accord, 
Subscribe,  Your  brethren  in  the  Lord. 

There  were  several  other  articles  referring  to  this  sub 
ject,  written  by  "  A  Country  Minister,"  and  replied  to 
by  "A  Country  Booby,"  which  are  amusing  enough  to 
reward  the  task  of  looking  over  the  file.  The  reverend 
gentleman  came  out,  at  length,  under  his  own  signature, 
exonerating  the  people  of  his  parish  in  Maiden  from 
some  of  the  charges  of  injustice  that  had  been  made 
against  them,  and  declaring,  —  "  although  I  have  suffered 
great  inconvenience  by  my  salary's  not  being  punctually 
paid  me,  yet  (for  aught  I  know)  the  people  here  have 
been  as  punctual  in  their  payment  as  other  parishes  in 
the  country  generally  are." 

The  project  of  building  a  bridge  across  Charles  River 
between  Boston  and  Charlestown,  was  renewed  in  the 
Centinel,  in  the  winter  of  1785.  It  occasioned  a 
"  terrible  clashing  of  opinions,"  among  the  correspond 
ents  of  that  paper.  Another  subject,  which  makes  a 
conspicuous  figure  in  the  Centinel,  was  the  plan  of  in 
corporating  the  town  as  a  city.  The  bridge  succeeded, 
but  the  incorporation  failed. 

A  question  still  more  exciting  in  its  character,  sprung 
up  near  the  close  of  this  winter.  Governor  Hancock 
resigned  his  office  in  the  month  of  February,  on  account 
of  ill  health.  James  Bowdoin,  a  distinguished  gentle 
man  of  Boston,  seemed  to  be  pointed  out  by  the  com- 


WARDEN    AND    RUSSELL.  31 

mon  consent  of  the  people  as  the  proper  person  to  suc 
ceed  him.  The  editors  of  the  Centinel  do  not  appear 
to  have  taken  a  very  active  part  either  for  or  against 
him  ;  but  they  allowed  some  of  their  correspondents  to 
abuse  him  in  a  most  outrageous  style.  There  was  no 
choice  of  a  Governor  by  the  people,  and  the  election  of 
course,  devolved  upon  the  Legislature.  The  opponents 
of  Mr.  Bowdoin,  exulting  in  the  belief  that  he  would  not 
be  chosen,  got  up  a  lampoon,  that  was  published  in  the 
Centinel,  and  which,  for  coarseness  of  invective  and 
vulgar  ribaldry,  was  quite  equal  to  any  political  pasquin 
ade  of  later  years.  It  was  published  in  the  Centinel 
the  day  on  which  the  Legislature  assembled.*  But  the 
triumphant  mockery  was  altogether  premature,  and  pro 
duced  no  other  effect  than  mortification  to  its  projectors. 
For  although  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  selecting 
the  two  constitutional  candidates,  gave  to  Mr.  Gushing 
about  thirty  votes  more  than  they  gave  to  Mr.  Bowdoin, 
the  Senate,  in  the  exercise  of  its  constitutional  preroga 
tive  of  selecting  one  of  two  candidates,  chose  Mr.  Bow 
doin  by  a  large  majority. 

At  the  close  of  the  second  volume,  March  19,  1785, 
the  editors  again  addressed  their  friends  and  customers 
in  rhyme,  as  follows  :  — 

A  year  's  revolved,  Time's  tablets  tell 
Since  first  you  viewed  the  Centiiiel ; 
As  volume  second  's  at  a  close, 
In  justice  to  't,  it  must  suppose, 
You  '11  just  permit  it  to  rehearse 
Its  (some  call 't  usefulness)  in  verse. 

*  It  is  quite  too  long,  and  exhibited  in  typography  too  inconvenient  to  be  placed 
in  this  work  ;  but  the  curious  may  be  gratified  by  referring  to  the  paper  that  con 
tains  it,  and  see  with  what  bitterness  political  animosity  could  then  assail  its  victim. 


32  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

First  NEWS  —  but  sure,  you  Ve  often  read 
When  little  's  done,  there  's  little  said. 
Though  Peace  proclaims  her  quiet  sway, 
And  War,  with  us,  is  done  away, 
Yet  still  the  Centinel  explores 
Remotest  climes  and  distant  shores, 
Through  cities  stalks,  peeps  in  at  courts, 
Mingles  with  business  and  with  sports, 
Listens  to  every  word  that 's  told, 
Beads  every  paper,  new  or  old, 
From  the  crude  mass  selects  the  best 
For  use,  and  throws  aside  the  rest. 

For  ENTERTAINMENT  —  The  Collection 
Presents  each  number  for  inspection  : 
Anecdotes  droll,  the  bon  mot  queer, 
The  carper's  snarl,  the  critic's  sneer, 
A  smart  reply,  the  goose-quill  scar,  — 
Blest  trophies  of  a  paper  war  — 
An  essay,  or  a  pretty  pun, 
Or  hint,  to  make  a  little  fun, 
And  other  matters,  as  you  see, 
In  the  uproar,  'bout  the  Sans  Souci. 
Oft  times,  when  in  a  sober  mood, 
It  deals  out  some  things  that  are  good : 
A  sober,  moral  observation, 
Prefaced  with  "  Sunday's  Preparation  ;  " 
Something  to  suit  the  great,  the  small ; 
In  fact,  it  fain  would  please  you  all, 
And  in  its  Miscellany  gather 
Instruction,  news,  and  scraps,  for  pleasure, 
Resolves  of  Congress,  Proclamations, 
With  Strictures  on  the  Law  of  Nations  ; 
Changes  of  empires,  fate  of  kings, 
Of  statesmen,  culprits,  and  such  things, 
Of  great  and  general  concern, 
From  it  you  twice  a  week  may  learn : 
Tell  who  are  pilloried,  hanged,  or  cropped, 
Who  runs  away,  or  who  gets  shopped, 
What  lucky  swain  has  found  a  bride, 
And  last,  tell  who  have  lately  died. 
—  Here  sense  and  virtue  must  inspire 
In  moral  mood,  to  touch  the  lyre, — 


WARDEN    AND    RUSSELL.  33 

When  it  proclaims  your  neighbor  's  dead, 
Know,  this  will  soon  of  you  be  said ; 
And,  strange  to  think,  when  you  are  gone, 
The  busy  world  will  still  go  on 
In  the  old  track,  nor  miss  you  more 
Than  you  have  those,  who  went  before. 
Your  death  they  '11  read,  without  a  thought,  — 
Next  \veek,  perhaps,  you  '11  be  forgot : 
They  '11  feast,  sport,  sing,  and  laugh  as  hearty, 
As  if  you  still  were  of  their  party : 
But,  though  so  small  in  other's  view, 
Your  death  's  no  trifle,  friend,  to  you. 
Here  stop  —  the  Centinel  will  still 
The  task  endeavor  to  fulfill 
To  captivate  the  curious  mind, 
And  make  the  fancy  more  refined,  — 
To  instruct,  to  entertain,  and  show  forth 
What 's  good,  or  comical,  and  so  forth. 

In  March,  1785,  the  Legislature  passed  an  "  Act  im 
posing  duties  on  licensed  vellum,  parchment,  and  paper," 
which  laid  a  duty  of  two  thirds  of  a  penny  on  every 
newspaper,  and  a  penny  on  almanacks,  —  all  which 
were  to  be  stamped.  The  act  was  exceedingly  unpop 
ular.  The  people  had  not  forgotten  the  British  stamp- 
act  of  1765.  The  fearless  independence  of  the  editors 
of  the  Centinel  was  not  quite  so  conspicuous  in  their 
comments  on  this  impolitic  law,  as  on  some  other  mea 
sures  of  the  government.  For  example  :  — 

The  STAMP  ACT,  passed  the  last  session  of  the  General  Court,  meets 
opposition  throughout  every  part  of  the  Commonwealth ;  that  part 
laying  a  duty  on  newspapers  particularly  so.  The  cloven  foot  in  it  ap 
pears  too  visible  to  escape  notice.  To  clog  the  currents  of  informa 
tion,  —  and  to  shackle  the  means  of  political  knowledge  and  necessary 
learning,  —  are  discordant  notes  to  the  general  ear.  But  its  danger  is 
not  the  whole  of  its  evil  consequences.  It  is  deemed  impolitic  and  une 
qual^  —  impolitic,  as  it  will  encourage  our  sister  States  to  send  their 
papers  into  this  commonwealth  cheaper  than  they  can  possibly  be 
afforded  here,  to  the  ruin  of  a  set  of  artizans,  whose  exertions  in  the 


34  MASSACHUSETTS     CENTINEL. 

late  revolution  deserve  a  more  liberal  fate : — unequal,  as  the  revenue 
arising  from  newspapers  must  (while  but  a  mite  in  the  general  treas 
ury)  operate,  in  a  great  degree,  to  the  destruction  of  the  present 
printers  of  these  publications.  May  4,  1785. 

In  mentioning  the  disapprobation,  which  we  are  certain  is  generally 
given  to  the  Stamp  Act,  by  the  citizens  of  this  commonwealth,  we  feel 
a  peculiar  diffidence.  Ill-nature,  we  are  conscious,  will  suppose  the 
information  as  originating  in  self-interest.  But  as  it  is  our  duty,  in  all 
cases,  to  convey  whatever  may  be  deemed  of  public  benefit,  we  shall 
observe  that  it  is  in  agitation  in  several  towns,  to  instruct  their  repre 
sentatives  to  bring  in  an  act  to  repeal  certain  clauses  in  the  above- 
mentioned  one.  Should  there  be  no  alteration,  and  the  act  remain  as  it 
is,  we  are  certain  that  it  must  operate  to  the  impoverishment  of  many  of 
the  publishers  of  newspapers  in  this  state ;  and  could  the  community 
at  large  derive  any  considerable  advantage  by  the  sacrifice,  we  doubt 
not  but  they  would  meet  their  doom  with  a  becoming  satisfaction. 
But  this  will  not  be  the  case  —  in  their  fall,  if  they  must  fall,  will  close 
the  duty,  and  every  friend  to  equal  liberty  need  not  be  informed,  that  the 
duties  arising  from  the  tax  on  the  vehicles  of  political  information  will  be 
in  no  proportion  to  the  impoverishment  of  a  single  individual ;  —  conse 
quently  it  will  be  unequal  and  hard.  If  we  would  assume  the  confi 
dence  of  dictating  our  rulers,  ive  should  suppose  that  the  articles  of 
foreign  luxury,  for  which  our  cash  is  constantly  bidding  adieu  to  our 
country,  were  objects  more  deserving  restrictions  and  duties,  especially 
when  it  is  considered  that  Newspapers  are  the  principal  support  of  one 
capital  branch  of  AMERIC AN  MANUFACTORY  —  paper-making. 

May  11,  1785. 

The  offensive  act  was  repealed  by  the  Legislature, 
the  next  June,  but  another  was  passed,  laying  a  duty 
on  advertisements,  —  six-pence  on  each  insertion.  This 
measure  was  censured  and  ridiculed  in  most  of  the 
papers  in  all  the  states ;  but  the  Centinel  thinking  it  no 
infringement  on  the  liberty  of  the  press,  approved  its 
passage,  on  the  ground  that  it  "  contributed  thousands  to 
the  exigences  of  the  state." 

A  few  paragraphs,  taken  without  much  regard  to  order 
or  subject,  from  the  Centinel  while  in  its  youthful  days, 
will  exemplify  the  talent,  the  taste,  and  the  degree  of 


WARDEN    AND    RUSSELL.  35 

acquirement  in  the  critical  use  of  language,  which  the 
editors  could  then  bring  to  the  field  of  their  labors.  It 
has  always  been  understood  and  believed  that  the  duties 
of  the  editorial  department  devolved,  almost  wholly,  upon 
Russell,  while  Warden  conducted  the  mechanical  opera 
tions.  The  supposition  is  doubtless  correct,  as  the  same 
ambitious  style  of  composition  characterized  the  edito 
rials  of  the  paper  after  the  death  of  Warden.  The 
reader  will  also  meet  with  some  facts,  not  now  generally 
known,  —  curious  and  interesting  as  connected  with  the 
customs  and  habits  of  life  in  Boston,  in  the  last  century. 

The  taste  for  Air  Balloon  matters  has  grown  to  such  an  extraordi 
nary  pitch,  that  nothing  can  pretend  to  have  any  intrinsic  value  in  it, 
unless  it  has  this  name  as  an  appendage.  The  gentlemen  and  ladies 
upon  bon  ton  are  not  the  only  objects  that  can  boast  of  this  aerial  bom 
bastic  insignia  to  their  ornaments ;  as  a  countryman  was  heard  to  say 
one  day  last  week,  —  "  Fine  balloon  String  Beans  !  "  July  14,  1 784. 

Every  man  may  learn  the  elements  of  geography,  which  is  the  noblest 
science  in  the  world,  from  an  attention  to  the  temperature  of  his  own 
mind.  Melancholy  is  the  north  pole ;  Envy  the  South ;  Choler  the  torrid 
zone;  Ambition  the  zodiac;  Joy  the  ecliptic;  Justice  the  equinoctial; 
Prudence  and  Temperance  the  arctic  and  antarctic  circles;  Patience 
and  Fortitude  the  tropics. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Hazlitt  is  now  delivering  a  course  of  Lectures  on  the  \ 
Evidences  of  the  Truth  of  the  Christian  Religion.  This  learned  and 
ingenious  gentleman,  by  a  happy  and  insinuating  style,  blends  instruc 
tion  with  amusement.  Those  of  a  Deistical  turn  of  mind  would, 
we  doubt  not,  reap  much  benefit  from  an  attendance  on  these  Lectures, 
as  the  perspicuity  of  his  arguments  strike  conviction  into  the  most 
obdurate  hearts.  January  19,  1785. 

The  general  complaint  in  the  coffee-houses  for  some  time  has  been 
that  there  is  nothing  in  the  papers.  The  politician,  who  looks  for  the 
accounts  of  battles  and  sieges,  marches  and  encampments,  ambuscades 
and  surprizes,  rails  vehemently  at  the  barrenness  of  our  prints,  and  the 
want  of  spirit  and  enterprize  in  the  sovereigns  of  Europe.  He  is  angry 
at  the  Emperor  and  the  Dutch  for  not  going  to  loggerheads  at  once,  if 
it  were  only  for  his  entertainment.  Commend  me,  says  he,  to  those 
glorious  times,  when  40,000  men  were  killed  in  one  engagement.  This 


36  MASSACHUSETTS     CENTINEL. 

was  a  feast  at  one's  breakfast  table  in  the  morning  !  but  now,  there  is 
nothing  to  amuse,  nothing  to  entertain,  nothing  to  exhilarate;  —  in 
short,  through  the  whole  four  pages,  he  can  see  nothing  in  the  papers  ! 

The  old  women,  who  relish  nothing  but  the  relation  of  fatal  accidents, 
providential  escapes,  broken  legs  and  arms,  and  fractured  skulls,  com 
plain  too  grievously  of  the  present  want  of  news.  Not  above  one  dog 
in  a  week  runs  mad,  nor  two  scaffolds  in  a  month  fall  down  for  their 
gratification.  The  dullness  of  the  times  is  intolerable  —  thereis  nothing 
in  the  papers  ! 

Those  who  are  curious  in  physic  and  philosophy  have  equal  cause  to 
complain.  We  hear  nothing  at  present  of  hurricanes  in  the  West 
Indies,  or  earthquakes  in  Italy ;  no  plagues  either  at  Smyrna  or  at 
Constantinople;  all  patients  are  in  perfect  health,  and  the  face  of  nature 
is  uniform  tranquillity :  In  short,  all  is  dead,  and  there  is  nothing  in  the 
papers.  June  29,  1785. 

Died  at  Nesqueunia  about  three  weeks  since,  the  woman,  who  has 
been  at  the  head  of  the  sect  called  Shaking  Quakers,  and  has  assumed 
the  title  of  the  Elect  Lady.  What  is  extraordinary,  a  brother  of  hers, 
who  was  one  of  their  principal  elders,  died  the  same  week  and  of  the 
same  disorder  :  They  were  taken  with  inward  bleeding,  and  died  sud 
denly.  It  is  not  improbable  that  the  manner  of  worship,  practised  by 
those  extravagant  enthusiasts,  might  conduce  to  a  rupture  of  the  ves 
sels,  and  occasion  this  mode  of  dissolution ;  as  many  of  their  cere 
monies  require  such  unnatural  distortions,  and  continued  agitations  of 
every  limb  and  muscle,  as  must  shock  the  strongest  constitution  ;  and 
the  texture  of  the  human  body  is  too  delicate  to  render  it  a  fit  habita 
tion  for  such  violent  and  disorderly  spirits.  We  hope  these  instances 
of  untimely  death,  in  those  who  deemed  themselves  immortal,  will  in 
duce  others,  who  adopt  this  gymnastic  religion,  to  compare  the  danger 
of  ruining  their  constitutions  with  the  benefit  which  may  arise  to  their 
souls  from  such  violent  exercise.  October  2,  1 785. 

The  death  of  the  Elect  Lady,  so  called  among  the  Shaking  Quakers, 
has  given  a  universal  shock  to  her  poor  deluded  adherents.  Certain  it 
is — they  believed  her  to  be  immortal;  that  Christ,  in  person,  was 
making  his  second  appearance  on  earth,  and  that  he  would  continue  till 
all  who  were  to  be  saved  should  be  called  in,  and  join  the  church.  Their 
faith  in  this  strange  personage,  (or,  as  they  used  to  term  her,  Holy 
Mother)  was  such,  that  they  believed  she  sat  daily  in  council  with  the 
Deity ;  and  that  things  past,  present,  and  future,  were  ever  open  to  her 
view.  But  alas !  this  feigned  immortal,  who  has  long  made  the  simple 
drunk  with  the  cup  of  her  fornications,  is  no  more  !  Her  followers  now 
begin  to  find  they  have  been  duped  by  an  impostor.  Some  few,  still 


WARDEN    AND    RUSSELL.  37 

thirsting  for  the  poison  of  Satanic  delusion,  avail  themselves  by  say 
ing,  She  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth.  Others,  that  she  is  gone  to  prepare  a 
place  for  them  in  glory.  October  23,  1785. 

It  must  afford  pleasure  to  every  ingenious  mind,  when  it  reflects  on 
the  avidity  with  which  the  experiment  on  Balloons  is  seized  by  almost 
all  ranks  and  denominations.  The  advancement  of  philosophy  will 
most  assuredly  receive  the  assistance  and  applause  of  every  friend  to 
science,  which  will  stimulate  our  enterprizing  geniuses  to  exert  their 
abilities  in  the  execution  of  some  capital  performance  in  this  way,  that 
will  do  honor  to  the  invention,  and  add  reputation  to  the  town. 

March  30,  1785. 

Human  nature  has  received  another  blot  —  and  the  laws  of  God  have 
again  been  violated  by  the  cowardly  crime  of  suicide.  Capt.  Isaac 
Gleason  of  Waltham,  we  are  told,  on  Wednesday  last,  impiously  put 
an  end  to  an  existence  he  could  not  make.  Like  the  villain,  who 
destroyed  the  temple  at  Ephesus,  the  memories  of  suicides  ought  to  be 
held  up  to  the  execration  of  posterity,  and  their  bodies  exhibited  on  a 
stake,  to  blacken  in  the  sun,  that  the  traveler  may  point  at  it  and  say, 
There  hangs  the  coward  fool  —  and  meets  a  fate  he  justly  merited. 

January  7,  1786. 

Sometime  in  the  summer  of  1785,  a  British  ship  of 
war,  Capt.  Stanhope,  was  in  Boston  harbor.  The  offi 
cers  were  often  in  the  town,  and  had  an  altercation  with 
some  individuals,  the  precise  nature  of  which  is  not  to 
be  learned  from  the  notices  in  the  papers.  It  appears 
that  the  Captain  published  an  account  of  it  in  the  Hali 
fax  papers,  with  a  correspondence  he  had  had  with 
Governor  Bowdoin  relating  thereto,  on  which  the  Cen- 
tinel,  September  17,  made  the  following  remarks :  — 

Insolence  and  ignorance  never  appeared  in  a  more  striking  light,  than 
they  did  in  the  letters  lately  sent  by  Capt.  Stanhope  to  our  worthy 
chief  magistrate.  Although  those  published  in  the  last  Thursday's 
papers  were  much  altered  in  Nova  Scotia,  yet  even  those  are  enough,  if 
there  had  not  been  enough  before,  to  stamp  his  character  with  ineffable 
contempt  —  and  hold  him  up  to  the  abhorrence  and  detestation  of  every 

one  in  whose  breast  one  spark  of  honor  is  resident The 

subterfuge  of  Mr.  Stanhope's,  in  ushering  his  late  correspondence,  cor 
rected  and  revised,  to  the  public,  under  the  cover  of  an  Extract  of  a  letter 
VOL.    II.  4 


38  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

from  Boston,  is  a  proceeding  worthy  of  so  piddling  a  genius.  However, 
as  we  wish  some  of  that  gentleman's  original  productions  may  be  seen, 
we  shall  endeavor  to  obtain  a  copy  of  the  correspondence  for  our  next 
Centinel. 

The  correspondence  was  published  in  the  Centinel  of 
September  28.  The  editors  introduced  it  by  saying, 
they  should  not  comment  much  on  the  letters,  and 
add,  —  "  Insolence  is  a  quality  British  officers  generally 
lay  claim  to,  but  where  ignorance  and  folly  join  hand  in 
hand  with  it,  the  character  they  compose  is  too  con 
temptible  to  deserve  any  other  notice  than  personal 
chastisement.  Whether  these  three  qualities  do  not 
compose  Mr.  Stanhope's  character  the  world  may 
judge  —  and  whether  he  does  not  merit  the  punishment, 
let  the  candid  determine  from  his  letters  —  they  need  no 
comment  —  vengeance  is  satisfied  when  they  appear  to 
the  world  as  he  first  wrote  them  —  and  if  even  his 
1  senses '  are  not  agitated  by  the  reflection  of  their 
public  appearance,  we  must  pronounce  him  really 
'dead*  to  every  principle  of  shame." 

It  was  not  without  great  difficulty  that  the  Centinel 
was  sustained,  for  several  years.  Money  was  scarce, 
and  the  collection  of  newspaper  bills  was  no  easier  than 
it  has  been  in  later  years.  The  publishers,  on  every 
fitting  opportunity,  expressed  grateful  acknowledgements 
to  their  customers,  but  these  were  generally  accompanied 
by  calls  similar  to  the  following  :  — 

A  LOUD  CALL. 

03^  That  "  times  are  hard  "  is  the  general  complaint  of  all  ranks  of 
people ;  but  that  they  are  peculiarly  so  with  the  Printers  hereof,  is  a 
certain  truth,  which  must  apologize  for  their  now  earnestly  requesting 
those,  whose  accounts  with  them  are  of  more  than  one  year's  standing, 
to  make  payment.  Dunning  is  an  unthankful  business;  and  glad 
would  they  be,  had  they  no  occasion  for  it ;  but  really  the  want  of  the 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  39 

money  due  them,  while  it  sickens  the  whole  heart,  will  urge  them  to  a 
conduct  disagreeable  in  the  extreme. 

The  effect  produced  by  this  appeal,  if  any,  may  be 
estimated  after  reading  their  address,  six  months  after, 
namely,  in  March,  1786,  in  which  they  express  in  suita 
ble  terms  their  gratitude  "  for  the  very  liberal  encour 
agement,  and  even  partiality,  shown  their  endeavors  to 
serve  the  public  in  the  line  of  their  profession  ;  "  and 
pay  "  their  warmest  thanks  in  a  particular  manner  "  to 
their  advertising  friends  for  their  favors.  They  venture 
to  "  hope  that  they  shall  profit  by  the  experience  they 
have  acquired,"  and  to  enlarge  and  improve  the  Centi- 
nel  "at  its  present  price."  They  conclude,  — "In  re 
gard  to  the  wherewith,  little  need  be  said.  Having 
experienced  the  public  generosity,  they  only  observe, 
that  a  display  of  it  now,  would  positively  be  very 
timely." 

The  Centinel  of  Wednesday,  March  22,  1786, — 
the  first  number  of  the  fifth  volume,  —  announces  the 
death  of  the  senior  editor,  WILLIAM  WARDEN,  on  the 
Saturday  preceding,  in  the  25th  year  of  his  age.  The 
annunciation  is  unaccompanied  by  any  obituary  notice, 
or  any  remark  of  the  surviving  editor.  The  imprint 
was  changed  to  "  Printed  by  Benjamin  Russell,  near 
the  State-House,  Boston." 

Agreeably  to  notice  in  the  last  preceding  number,  the 
Centinel  was  enlarged  to  a  "  Crown  Folio."  The  small 
cuts  or  devices  were  removed  from  the  ends  of  the  head 
line,  and  one  of  them,  —  that  which  represented  the 
Geniusof  America  on  a  pyramid — was  placed  in  the  cen 
tre  of  the  line,  between  the  words  Massachusetts  and  Cen 
tinel.  There  was  no  other  change  in  the  typography. 


40  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

It  was  in  this  year,  that  the  Rebellion  broke  out  in 
Massachusetts  —  an  event  which  has  consigned  to  in 
famy  the  name  of  Daniel  Shays,  the  most  prominent 
leader  in  that  atrocious  attempt  to  overturn  the  govern 
ment  of  the  state.  The  Centinel  was  a  faithful  watch 
man  on  the  side  of  the  constitution  throughout  the 
whole  of  that  interesting  and  trying  period,  and  exerted 
all  its  influence  to  quiet  the  fears  of  the  timid,  to  stimu 
late  the  courage  of  the  faithful,  to  keep  down  the  clamor 
of  the  discontented  and  factious,  and  to  uphold  the 
cause  of  patriotism,  order,  and  law.  Sometimes  it 
soberly  and  earnestly  appealed  to  the  good  sense  and 
judgement  of  the  honest  opponents  of  the  measures  of 
the  government ;  at  other  times,  it  assailed  the  mob  with 
wit  and  ridicule,  in  sarcasm  and  lampoon.  The  latter 
mode  was  not,  probably,  less  effectual  than  the  former. 
Here  are  a  few  stanzas  of 

A  SONG,  dedicated  to  the  Lovers  of  Wit,  the  Friends  to  Truth  and  good 

Government. 

Come  rouse,  my  bold  boxers,  'tis  Liberty  calls ; 
Hark  !  hark,  how  she  lustily  bawls,  and  bawls  ! 

It  is  high  time,  —  if  ever  for  mobbing  'twas  time,  — 
To  mobbing,  ye  chicks  of  Dame  Liberty,  run, 
Scour  up  the  old  ivhinyard  and  brush  up  the  gun  ; 
Freedom  we'll  chime, 
While  Tag,  Bag,  and  Bobtail 
Lead  up  the  decorum,  —  Huzza ! 
Sure  these  are  the  plaguiest  of  all  plaguy  times, 
When  villains  must  hang  for  their  crimes,  their  crimes, 

And  debtors  a  guantlope  of  bailiffs  must  run ; 
When  rulers  must  govern  and  we  must  obey, 
And  law  down  our  gullets  is  crammed  every  day  — 
Rap,  rap  !  —  'tis  a  dun !  — 
The  sheriff's  behind  him, 
We'll  gag  him  and  bind  him  —  Huzza ! 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  41 

The  senates  and  courts  to  our  friend  Beelzebub 
We'll  drive  with  the  musket,  and  club,  and  club, 
And  in  apron  and  jerkin  our  governor  dress : 
To  sit  in  the  saddle,  we've  men  that  know  how, 
And  make  all  your  ruffle  shirts  foot  it  and  bow ; 

The  world  shall  confess 

We've  spirits  in  hogsheads, 

And  cunning  in  foxheads,  —  Huzza ! 
Thus  no  longer  with  stocks  and  with  pillories  vexed, 
Nor  with  work,  jail,  or  sheriff  perplexed,  perplexed, 
The  mob  men  shall  rule  and  the  great  men  obey ; 
The  world  upon  wheels  shall  be  all  set  agog, 
And  blockheads  and  knaves  hail  the  reign  of  King  Log : 

Under  his  sway, 

Shall  Tag,  Rag,  and  Bobtail 

Lead  up  our  decorum,  —  Huzza ! 

The  following,  —  not  a  bad  imitation  of  the  pastoral 
style  of  the  English  poets,  —  appeared  about  the  time 
when  the  Rebellion  was  suppressed,  and  when  Shays 
and  his  colleagues  were  seeking  refuge  in  other  states, 
or  hiding  themselves  from  the  officers  of  the  law  in 

Massachusetts :  — 

SHAYS : 

A   REBEL   ECLOGUE. 

JEDIDIAH.    JONAS.    TIPPLE. 
Two  young  Insurgents  (where  the  sign-post  high 
Stands  at  the  road,  and  speaks  the  tavern  nigh) 
Agreed  to  try,  by  song,  which  most  could  praise 
Rebellion's  influence,  and  the  name  of  Shays : 
With  umpire  Tipple,  seated  by  their  side, 
Thus  Jedidiah  spoke,  and  Jonas  thus  replied. 

JEDIDIAH. 

Hear  how  the  whirling  winds  around  us  blow ! 
And  see  the  country  buried  deep  in  snow  ! 
Why  should  we  joyless  doze  away  our  time  ? 
Come,  let's  begin,  and  waste  the  morn  in  rhyme 

JONAS. 

Of  Shays  and  liberty  then  let  us  try  — 
I'll  wage  you  cannot  sing  so  well  as  I. 


42  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

JEDIDIAH. 

Ho !  that's  a  pity !  thou  shalt  judge  and  see, 
O  cousin  Tipple  !  and  the  umpire  he. 

TIPPLE. 

Make  haste,  my  boys— I'll  judge  of  what  you  sing, 
For  see !  't  is  sunrise,  and  I  want  a  sling. 

JONAS. 

See  this  junk  hottle,  once  my  joy  and  pride, 
With  all  these  curious  letters  on  its  side ; 
Once  it  was  often  filled !  — Now,  by  my  heart, 
I'll  bet  this  bottle,  and  it  holds  a  quart ; 
I'll  wage  my  mare — bring  you  an  equal  stake  — 

JEDIDIAH. 

—  That  should  be  seen,  if  I  had  one  to  make. 
Father  and  I,  and  all  hands  labor  sore, 
And  hope  in  time  to  pay  the  tavern  score. 
We  've  four  years  grievous  taxes  yet  to  pay ; 
An  hundred  mugs  of  flip  to  wipe  away ; 
But  since  you  will  be  mad  and  wage  —  here,  take 
This  great  tobacco-box  —  't  is  all  I  stake. 

JONAS. 

Give  us  but  rum,  our  pleasure  and  our  pride ; 
A  rebel  cares  not  how  the  world  may  slide. 
Though  all  our  evils  overspread  the  land, 
And  vengeful  justice  should  our  wiles  withstand, 
Unawed  by  law,  and  uncontroled  by  sense, 
Nobly  we  join  to  drive  the  vagrant  hence. 

JEDIDIAH. 

What  is  rebellion  ?  grievances  redressed, 
Tis  Policy,  to  most  advantage  dressed  — 
Sheriffs  and  duns  could  ne'er  but  conscience  fret, 
We  clamor  rather  at  the  public  debt : 
Or  like  a  bull  to  belch  —  we  grieve  and  groan  — 
For  public  interest,  and  mean  our  own. 

JONAS. 

Still  firm  and  steady  let  each  rebel  stand, 
Nor  dread  the  weight  of  Justice'  heavy  hand ; 
Secure  from  brother  Shattuck's  iron  box, 
From  whipping-posts,  and  pillories,  and  stocks ; 
See  from  all  countries  hosts  of  rebels  spring  ! 
Hear  through  the  ranks  the  martial  music  ring ! 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  43 

In  cause  so  great  let  every  country  raise 

Her  fresh  supplies,  and  aid  our  General  Shays. 

JEDIDIAH. 

A  little  tumult  is  a  dangerous  thing  — 
Drink  deep,  or  taste  not,  of  Sedition's  spring ; 
These  mobbing  draughts  but  gently  turn  the  brain, 
And  bold  Rebellion  sobers  us  again. 
Fired  at  the  name  of  Shays  and  war's  alarms, 
Fierce  in  the  cause,  we  tempt  the  heights  of  arms ; 
While  from  the  level  of  our  narrow  mind, 
Short  views  we  take,  nor  see  the  length  behind ; 
But  more  advanced,  behold,  with  strange  surprize, 
New  scenes  of  tumult  and  sedition  rise  ! 
So  when  at  first  Wachusett  hill  we  try, 
Mount  o'er  the  vales,  and  seem  to  tread  the  sky, 
One  part  attained,  we  tremble  to  survey, 
The  groaning  labors  of  the  crooked  way ; 
The  increasing  prospect  cheats  our  wondering  eyes, 
For  still  Wachusetts  on  "Wachusetts  rise. 

JONAS. 

Where  carrion  lies,  the  hungry  crows  abound  ; 
Where  plunder  is,  Insurgents  will  be  found. 
From  laziness  what  cheerful  pleasures  come  ! 
Sweet  of  a  morning  is  New-England  rum  ! 
In  all  these  blessed  gifts  no  sweets  there  be  — 
For  dearer  than  the  whole  is  Shays  to  me. 

JEDIDIAH. 

I'll  weave  a  garland  for  my  darling  Shays ; 
I'll  twigs  of  hemlock  and  of  dog- wood  raise ; 
There  the  green  bough  of  Rebels  shall  be  seen 
With  sprigs  of  hemp  and  devil's-weed  between. 

JONAS. 

The  mighty  wolf  is  baneful  to  the  sheep ; 
Storms  in  the  spring  will  make  the  farmer  weep  ; 
The  lagging  frosts  to  blossoms  prove  unkind, 
And  county  courts  disturb  a  debtor's  mind ; 
Of  Lincoln's  sword  more  ills  does  Fame  report, 
Than  of  the  wolves,  and  storms,  and  frosts,  and  county  court. 

TIPPLE. 

Cease  to  contend  —  so  well,  so  long  you  sing, 
You  must  be  dry — and  I,  too,  want  a  sling. 


44  MASSACHUSETTS     CENTINEL. 

But  hark !  what  noise  is  this  insults  my  ear, 
Which  strikes  my  trembling  heart  with  rebel  fear, 
A  troop  of  Lincoln's  horse  !  —  in  yonder  field  !  — 
Lord  !  —  run !  —  run !  —  run  !  or  we  shall  all  be  killed. 

Some,  who  read  these  sketches,  may  be  gratified  to 
see  the  following  "  Protest,  or  Excommunication  "  which 
was  published  in  the  Centinel,  January  2,  1780,  at  the 
request  of  the  Rev.  James  Freeman,  minister  of  the 
Stone-Chapel,  Boston  :  — 

Whereas  a  certain  congregation  in  Boston,  calling  themselves  the 
first  EPISCOPAL  Church  in  said  town,  have,  in  an  irregular  and 
unconstitutional  manner,  introduced  a  Liturgy  essentially  differing  from 
any  used  in  the  Episcopal  Churches  in  this  Commonwealth,  and  in  the 
United  States ;  and  have  also  assumed  to  themselves  a  power,  unprece 
dented  in  the  said  Church,  of  separating  to  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
Mr.  James  Freeman,  who  has  for  some  time  past  been  their  Reader,  and 
of  themselves  have  authorized,  or  pretendedly  authorized  him  to  admin 
ister  the  Sacraments  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper;  and,  at  the 
same  time,  most  inconsistently  and  absurdly  take  to  themselves  the 
name  and  style  of  an  Episcopal  Church : 

WE,  the  ministers  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  whose  names 
are  underwritten,  do  hereby  declare  the  proceedings  of  said  congrega 
tion,  usually  meeting  at  the  Stone  Chapel  in  Boston,  to  be  irregular, 
unconstitutional,  diametrically  opposite  to  every  principle  adopted  in 
any  Episcopal  Church;  subversive  of  all  order  and  regularity,  and 
pregnant  with  consequences  fatal  to  the  interests  of  religion.  And  we 
do  hereby,  and  in  this  public  manner,  protest  against  the  aforesaid  pro 
ceedings,  to  the  end  that  all  those  of  our  communion,  whenever  dis 
posed,  may  be  cautioned  against  receiving  said  Reader,  or  Preacher, 
(Mr.  James  Freeman,)  as  a  clergyman  of  our  Church,  or  holding  any 
communion  with  him  as  such,  and  may  be  induced  to  look  upon  his 
congregation  in  the  light,  in  which  it  ought  to  be  looked  upon  by  all 
true  Episcopalians. 
Signed  by  EDWARD  BASS,  NATHANIEL  FISHER,  SAMUEL  PARKER, 

THOMAS  EITCH  OLIVER,  WILLIAM  MONTAGUE,  JOHN  C.  OGDEN, 

ministers  of  Episcopal  Churches  in  Newburyport,  Salem,   Boston, 

Marblehead,  and  Portsmouth. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  adopted 
in  the  Convention  on  the  17th  of  September,  1787.  It 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  45 

was  published  entire  in  the  Centinel  on  the  26th  of  the 
same  month,  together  with  the  Resolve  and  the  Circular 
addressed  to  the  State  Conventions.  From  that  time 
till  its  ratification  by  all  the  states,  Russell  devoted  all 
his  powers  to  secure  its  adoption.  Every  argument  in 
its  favor  was  strenuously  urged  by  him  or  his  corre 
spondents,  and  every  objection  was  answered  or  refuted. 
A  series  of  essays  in  favor  of  the  constitution,  —  first 
published  at  Hartford,  and  supposed  to  be  written  by 
Oliver  Ellsworth,  —  were  republished  in  the  Centinel, 
and  many  articles  of  the  same  character  from  other 
intelligent  and  influential  sources,  were  commended  to 
public  consideration.  Russell  was  one  of  the  Boston 
Mechanics,  who  held  a  succession  of  meetings  at  the 
"  Green  Dragon  Tavern,"  in  Boston,  to  represent  the 
sentiments  of  that  respectable  class  of  citizens  in  a  Me 
morial  to  the  State  Convention  of  Massachusetts  —  a 
document,  which  had  great  influence  with  that  body,  and 
which  (as  Governor  Hancock  is  reported  to  have  said) 
turned  the  scale  in  favor  of  the  constitution. 

While  the  several  State  Conventions  were  deliberating 
on  the  proposed  constitution,  Russell  kept  the  account 
of  their  progress  "  posted  up,"  in  detail,  with  scrupulous 
fidelity.  When  the  news  arrived  in  Boston  that  Dela 
ware  had  ratified  the  constitution,  the  Centinel  added  to 
the  intelligence,  a  remark  in  the  peculiar  vein  of  the 
editor :  —  "  The  State  of  Delaware  being  the  first  to 
adopt,  ratify,  and  confirm  the  American  Constitution, 
argues  well.  It  is  a  good  maxim,  which  inculcates  the 
practice  of  '  entering  at  the  little  end  of  the  horn ; '  — 
as,  at  every  step  we  take,  our  circle  is  increased,  and 
our  basis  progressively  growing  broader  and  broader." 


46  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

"Ten  States  (he  continues,)  have  called  Conventions. 
South-Carolina  we  have  not  heard  from — New-York, 
as  yet,  could  not,  —  and  Rhode-Island,  (shame  come 
upon  her  rulers  for  it  /)  will  not.  The  call  of  conven 
tions  is  tantamount  to  the  final  adoption  of  the  constitu 
tion  —  as,  in  these  assemblies,  such  unanswerable  argu 
ments  will  be  given,  as  must  convince  every  member, 
disposed  to  hearken  to  truth,  of  the  expediency  of  the 
measure,  whatever  may  have  been  their  former  senti 
ments  respecting  it." 

Again,  in  his  next  paper,  —  "  Three  pillars  of  the 
great  Dome  of  Federal  Empire  are  reared,  —  and,  as 
the  convention  of  Georgia  has  been  in  session,  and  that 
of  Connecticut  will  sit  next  week,  —  we  hope  soon  to 
have  it  in  our  power  to  felicitate  our  readers  on  the  bet 
ter  half  of  the  pile  being  completed."  A  few  weeks 
after,  on  the  9th  of  January,  1788,  the  editorial  depart 
ment  leads  off  with  the  following  supplicatory  para 
graph  :  — 

This  day  the  Convention  of  this  state  are  to  meet  for  the  purpose  of 
assenting  to  and  ratifying  the  Federal  Constitution.  May  the  GREAT 
IDEA  fill  the  mind  of  every  member  of  this  honorable  body,  that 
Heaven,  on  this  auspicious  occasion,  favors  America  with  an  opportu 
nity,  never  before  enjoyed  by  the  sons  of  men,  of  establishing  a  form  of 
government,  peaceably  and  deliberately,  which  will  secure  to  these  states 
all  those  blessings  which  give  worth  to  existence  or  dignity  to  man, 
PEACE,  LIBERTY,  and  SAFETY  !  —  And  may  the  guardian  God 
of  our  "dear  country"  inspire  the  convention  of  this  Commonwealth 
with  wisdom,  disinterestedness,  and  patriotism  equal  to  the  display  of  those 
virtues  in  our  sister  states,  who  have  already  erected  Three  Pillars  of 
the  glorious  Fabrick  of  the  Federal  Republick. 

In  the  next  Centinel,  the  proceedings  of  the  Conven 
tion  are  reported,  briefly,  in  detail.  Here  is  the  editorial 
description  of  the  body  :  — 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL. 


47 


THE     CONVENTION. 

Concentered  HERE,  the  united  wisdom  shines 

Of  learned  JUDGES  and  of  sound  DIVINES; 

PATRIOTS,  whose  virtues  searching  times  have  tried ; 

HEROES,  who  fought  where  BROTHER  HEROES  died; 

LAWYERS,  who  speak  as  TULLY  spoke  before; 

SAGES,  deep  read  in  philosophic  lore: 

MERCHANTS,  whose  plans  are  to  no  realms  confined ; 

FARMERS,  the  noblest  title  of  mankind; 

YEOMEN  and  TRADESMEN,  pillars  of  the  state  ; 

On  whose  decision  hangs  COLUMBIA'S  fate. 

Thus,  the  various  orders,  which  constitute  the  great  Family  of  the 
Commonwealth,  concur  to  form  the  august,  the  honorable  Convention, 
now  sitting  in  this  metropolis.  To  this  enlightened  and  respectable 
body,  the  eyes  not  only  of  their  constituents,  but  of  AMERICA,  and 
the  world,  are  turned.  And,  from  the  rays  of  intelligence,  which  beam 
from  every  quarter  of  the  assembly,  we  fondly  anticipate  the  most 
learned,  candid,  and  patriotic  discussion  of  the  great  subject  of  the 
Constitution. 

Next  came  the  information  that  Georgia  and  Connec 
ticut  had  ratified  the  Constitution,  and  the  Centinel  thus 
announced  the  intelligence  :  — 

States,  like  the  generous  vine,  supported  live  — 
The  strength  they  gain  is  from  the  embrace  they  give. 

THE  FEDERAL   PILLARS. 


UNITED  THEY  STAND DIVIDED  THEY  FALL. 

A  vessel  from  Georgia  confirms  the  pleasing  intelligence,  that  that 
state  has  unanimously  ratified  the  Federal  Constitution.  Thus  is  a 
FLFTH  PILLAR  added  to  the  glorious  Fabrick.  May  Massachusetts 
erar  the  SIXTH. 


48  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

As  we  predicted  in  our  last,  so  it  happened.  Monday  morning  was 
ushered  in  with  the  ringing  of  bells  in  this  metropolis,  on  account  of 
the  pleasing  intelligence  received  by  Saturday  night's  mail,  that  the 
State  of  Connecticut  had  added  a  FOURTH  PILLAR  to  that  GRAND 
REPUBLICAN  STRUCTURE,  the  FEDERAL  CONSTITU 
TION. 

Similar  announcements  were  made  as  the  states  suc 
cessively  adopted  the  constitution, — a  new  pillar  was 
added  to  the  device  in  the  Centinel, — and  the  intelli 
gence  was  given  in  language  of  the  same  jubilant  charac 
ter.  In  August,  1788,  when  eleven  states  had  adopted 
it,  the  eleven  corresponding  pillars  in  the  cut  stood 
perpendicular:  that  representing  North-Carolina  was 
raised  to  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees  ;  that  for 
Rhode-Island  was  broken,  just  above  the  base,  which 
stood  firm,  while  the  shaft  was  in  a  sloping  posture,  and 
at  the  capital  was  this  inscription,  "  {030  The  founda 
tion  good  —  it  may  yet  be  SAVED."  Over  the  whole 
range  of  pillars,  in  large  capitals,  were  the  words, — 
"REDEUNT  SATURNIA  REGNA."  Under  it 
was  the  following  :  — 

THE  FEDERAL  EDIFICE. 
ELEVEN  STARS,  in  quick  succession  rise, 
ELEVEN  COLUMNS  strike  our  wondering  eyes  ; 
Soon,  o'er  the  whole,  shall  swell  the  beauteous  DOME, 
COLUMBIA'S  boast,  and  FREEDOM'S  hallowed  home. 
Here  shall  the  ARTS  in  glorious  splendor  shine, 
And  AGRICULTURE  give  her  stores  divine  ; 
COMMERCE  refined,  dispense  us  more  than  gold, 
And  this  new  world  teach  WISDOM  to  the  old} 
RELIGION  here  shall  fix  her  blest  abode, 
Arrayed  in  mildness,  like  its  parent,  GOD  ; 
JUSTICE  and  LAW  shall  endless  PEACE  maintain, 
And  the  "  SATURNIAN  AGE  "  return  again. 

Russell  was  a  constant  attendant  in  the  Massachusetts 
Convention,  and  reported  the  debates  for  the  Centinel. 
These  reports  he  afterwards  revised,  with  the  aid  of  the 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  49 

f 

principal  speakers,  and  published  in  a  duodecimo  volume. 
Very  few  copies  of  this  book  are  now  in  existence,  and 
those  few  are  highly  valued  by  their  owners.  The  sit 
tings  of  the  Convention  were  held  in  the  old  meeting 
house,  which  stood  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Gannett's  meeting-house  in  Federal-street. 
This  street  was  then  known  by  the  name  of  Long  Lane, 
a  name,  which  was  changed  for  that,  which  it  bears  now, 
immediately  after  the  adoption  of  the  constitution.  In 
a  memorandum,  now  before  me,  Russell  says  —  "I  had 
never  studied  stenography,  nor  was  there  any  person 
then  in  Boston  that  understood  reporting.  The  presid 
ing  officer  of  the  Convention  sat  in  the  Deacon's  seat, 
under  the  pulpit.  I  took  the  pulpit  for  my  reporting 
desk,  and  a  very  good  one  it  was.  I  succeeded  well 
enough  in  this  my  first  effort  to  give  a  tolerably  fair  re 
port  in  my  next  paper ;  but  the  puritanical  notions  had 
not  entirely  faded  away,  and  I  was  voted  out  of  the  pul 
pit.  A  stand  was  fitted  up  for  me  in  another  place,  and 
I  proceeded  with  my  reports,  generally  to  the  acceptance 
of  the  Convention.  The  doubts  that  still  existed  as  to 
whether  enough  of  the  states  would  come  into  the  com 
pact  to  make  the  constitution  binding,  made  the  pro 
ceedings  of  the  Convention  intensely  interesting.  When 
the  news  arrived  of  the  acceptance  of  it  by  the  State  of 
Virginia,  there  was  a  most  extraordinary  outbreak  of 
rejoicing.  It  seemed  as  if  the  meeting-house  would 
burst  with  the  acclamation." 

Soon  after  the  ratification  by  Massachusetts,  Russell 
gave  utterance  to  his  exultation  in  the  following  Song  :  — 
5 


50  MASSACHUSETTS    CENTINEL. 

THE  RAISING: 

A  NEW  SONG  FOR  FEDERAL  MECHANICS. 

Come,  muster,  my  Lads,  your  mechanical  tools, 
Your  Saws  and  your  Axes,  your  Hammers  and  Rules  ; 
Bring  your  Mallets  and  Planes,  your  Level  and  Line, 
And  plenty  of  Pins  of  American  Pine. 

For  our  roof  we  will  raise,  and  our  song  shall  still  be  — 
A  government  firm,  and  our  citizens  free. 
Come,  up  with  the  Plates,  lay  them  firm  on  the  wall, 
Like  the  people  at  large,  they  're  the  ground-work  of  all ; 
Examine  them  well,  and  see  that  they  're  sound  ; 
Let  no  rotten  parts  in  our  building  be  found. 

For  our  roof  we  will  raise,  and  our  song  shall  still  be  — 
Our  government  firm,  and  our  citizens  free. 
Now  hand  up  the  Girders,  lay  each  in  his  place  ; 
Between  them  the  Joists  must  divide  all  the  space  ; 
Like  Assembly-men,  these  should  lie  level  along, 
Like  Girders,  our  Senate  prove  loyal  and  strong. 

For  our  roof  we  will  raise,  and  our  song  shall  still  be  — 
A.  government  firm,  over  citizens  free. 
The  Rafters  now  frame  —  your  King-Posts  and  Braces, 
And  drive  your  Pins  home,  to  keep  all  in  their  places  ; 
Let  wisdom  and  strength  in  the  fabric  combine. 
And  your  Pins  be  all  made  of  American  Pine : 

For  our  roof  we  will  raise,  and  our  song  shall  still  be  — 
A  government  firm,  over  citizens  free. 
Our  King-Posts  are  Judges  —  how  upright  they  stand, 
Supporting  the  Braces,  the  laws  of  the  land  — 
The  laws  of  the  land,  which  divide  right  from  wrong, 
And  strengthen  the  weak  by  weakening  the  strong. 

For  our  roof  we  will  raise,  and  our  song  shall  still  be  — 
Laws  equal  and  just  for  a  people  that 's  free. 
Up !  up  with  the  Rafters  —  each  frame  is  a  State  ! 
How  nobly  they  rise !  their  span,  too,  how  great ! 
From  the  North  to  the  South,  o'er  the  whole  they  extend, 
And  rest  on  the  Walls,  while  the  walls  they  defend. 

For  our  roof  we  will  raise,  and  our  song  shall  still  be — 
Combin-ed  in  strength,  yet,  as  citizens,  free. 
Now  enter  the  Purlins,  and  drive  your  Pins  through, 
And  see  that  your  Joints  are  drawn  home,  and  all  true ; 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  51 

The  Purlins  will  bind  all  the  Rafters  together, 

The  strength  of  the  whole  shall  defy  wind  and  weather ; 

For  our  roof  we  will  raise,  and  our  song  shall  still  be  — 

United  as  States,  but  as  citizens  free. 
Come  raise  up  the  Turret,  —  our  glory  and  pride, 
In  the  centre  it  stands,  o'er  the  whole  to  preside ; 
The  Sons  of  Columbia  shall  view  with  delight 
Its  PILLARS  and  ARCHES,  and  towering  height ! 

Our  roof  is  now  raised,  and  our  song  shall  still  be  — 

A.  Federal  Head  o'er  a  people  still  free. 
Huzza,  my  brave  boys !  our  work  is  complete, 
The  world  shall  admire  Columbia's  fair  seat ; 
Its  strength  against  tempests  and  time  shall  be  proof, 
And  thousands  shall  come  to  dwell  under  our  ROOF. 

Whilst  we  drain  the  deep  bowl,  our  toast  shall  still  be  — 

Our  government  firm,  and  our  citizens  free. 

The  Song,  which  follows,  published  in  the  Centinel  of 
January  31, 1789,  —  after  twelve  states  had  adopted  the 
constitution,  chosen  a  President,  and  Representatives 
to  the  first  Congress,  —  is  not  distinguished  as  original; 
but  it  partakes  so  liberally  of  the  spirit  and  style  of 
Russell,  that,  if  it  was  not  written  by  him,  I  must  be 
lieve  it  was  composed  from  his  dictation  :  — 

MECHANICS'   SONG. 

BY   ABRAHAM   AIMWELL,   ESQ. 

Ye  merry  Mechanics,  come  join  in  my  song, 
And  let  the  brisk  chorus  come  bounding  along  ; 
Though  some  may  be  poor,  and  some  rich  there  may  be, 
And  yet  all  are  contented,  and  happy,  and  free. 
Ye  Tailors,  of  ancient  and  noble  renown, 
Who  clothe  all  the  people  in  country  and  town, 
Remember  that  Adam,  your  father  and  head, 
Though  lord  of  the  world,  was  a  Tailor  by  trade. 
Ye  Masons  !  who  work  in  stone,  mortar  and  brick, 
And  lay  the  foundations  deep,  solid  and  thick, 
Though  hard  be  your  labor,  yet  lasting  your  fame, 
Both  Egypt  and  China  your  wonders  proclaim, 


52  MASSACHUSETTS     CENTINEL. 

Ye  Smiths,  who  forge  tools  for  all  trades  here  below, 

You  have  nothing  to  fear,  while  you  smite  and  you  blow ; 

All  things  you  may  conquer,  so  happy  your  lot, 

If  you  're  careful  to  strike  while  the  iron  is  hot. 

Ye  Shoemakers  !  nobly,  from  ages  long  past, 

Have  defended  your  rights  with  awl  to  the  last, 

And  Cobblers  all  merry,  not  only  stop  holes, 

But  work,  night  and  day,  for  the  good  of  our  soles. 

Ye  Cabinet-makers  !  brave  workers  in  wood, 

As  you  work  for  the  ladies,  your  work  must  be  good ; 

And  Joiners,  and  Carpenters,  far  off  and  near, 

Stick  close  to  your  trades,  and  you  've  nothing  to  fear. 

Ye  Hatters !  who  oft,  with  hands  not  very  fair, 

Fix  hats  on  a  block,  for  a  blockhead  to  wear, 

Though  charity  cover  a  sin,  now  and  then, 

You  cover  the  heads  and  the  sins  of  all  men. 

Ye  Coach-makers  !  must  not  by  tax  be  controlled, 

But  ship  off  your  coaches,  and  bring  us  home  gold ;  — 

The  roll  of  your  coach  made  Copernicus  reel, 

And  fancy  the  world  to  turn  round,  like  a  wheel. 

Ye  Carders,  and  Spinners,  and  Weavers  !  attend, 

And  take  the  advice  of  Poor  Richard  your  friend ; 

Stick  close  to  your  looms,  and  your  wheels,  and  your  card, 

And  you  never  need  fear  of  the  times  being  hard. 

Ye  Printers  !  who  give  us  our  learning  and  news, 

And  impartially  print  for  Turks,  Christians,  and  Jews, 

Let  your  favorite  toast  ever  sound  through  the  streets  — 

The  freedom  of  press,  and  a  volume  in  sheets. 

Ye  Coopers  !  who  rattle  with  driver  and  adze, 

And  lecture  each  day  upon  hoops  and  on  heads, 

The  famous  old  ballad  of  Love  in  a  tub, 

You  may  sing  to  the  tune  of  your  rub-a-dub  dub. 

Ye  Ship-builders  !  Riggers,  and  Makers  of  Sails  ! 

Already  the  New  Constitution  prevails ; 

And  soon  you  shall  see  o'er  the  proud  swelling  tide, 

The  ships  of  Columbia  triumphantly  ride. 

Each  Tradesman  turn  out  with  his  tool  in  his  hand, 

To  cherish  the  arts,  and  keep  peace  through  the  land ; 

Each  'prentice  and  journeyman  join  in  my  song, 

And  let  the  brisk  chorus  come  bounding  along. 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  53 

I  must  introduce  one  more  article  as  a  specimen  of 
Russell's  jubilant  style  of  announcing  the  progress  of 
federal  principles.  It  appeared  soon  after  the  inaugura 
tion  of  Washington  in  1789.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
as  to  the  authorship  of  this  article.  The  allegory  is  one 
which  Russell  always  delighted  to  introduce,  and  in  the 
indulgence  of  which  he  was  generally  successful  and 
happy :  - 

THE  FEDERAL  SHIP. 

Just  launched  on  the  Ocean  of  Empire,  the  Ship  COLUM 
BIA,  GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  Commander,  which, 
after  being  thirteen  years  in  dock,  is  at  length  well 
manned,  and  in  very  good  condition.  The  Ship  is  a 
first  rate  —  has  a  good  bottom,  which  all  the  Builders  have  pro 
nounced  sound  and  good.  Some  objection  has  been  made  to  parts  of 
the  tackling,  or  running  rigging,  which,  it  is  supposed,  will  be  altered, 
when  they  shall  be  found  to  be  incommodious,  as  the  Ship  is  able  to 
make  very  good  headway  with  them  as  they  are.  A  jury  of  Carpenters 
have  this  matter  now  under  consideration.  The  Captain  and  First 
Mate  are  universally  esteemed  by  all  the  Owners  —  Eleven  *  in  number 
—  and  she  has  been  insured,  under  their  direction,  to  make  a  good 
mooring  in  the  harbor  of  Public  Prosperity  and  Felicity  —  whitherto  she 
is  bound.  The  Owners  can  furnish,  besides  the  Ship's  Company,  the 
following  materials: — New-Hampshire,  the  Masts  and  Spars;  Massa 
chusetts,  Timber  for  the  Hull,  Fish,  &c. ;  Connecticut,  Beef  and  Pork ; 
New-  York,  Porter  and  other  Cabin  stores ;  Neiv- Jersey,  the  Cordage ; 
Pennsylvania,  Flour  and  Bread ;  —  Delaware,  the  Colors,  and  Clothing 
for  the  Crew ;  Maryland,  the  Iron  work  and  small  Anchors ;  Virginia, 
Tobacco  and  the  Sheet  Anchor ;  South-  Carolina,  Rice ;  and  Georgia, 
Powder  and  small  Provisions.  Thus  found,  may  this  good  Ship  put 
to  sea,  and  the  prayer  of  all  is,  that  GOD  may  preserve  her,  and  bring  her 
in  safety  to  her  desired  haven. 

In  February,  1789,  as  the  time  drew  near  for  the 
organization  of  the  government  under  the  constitution, 
Russell  published  the  Pasquinade,  which  follows.  Some 

*  Only  eleven  States  had  then  adopted  the  Constitution.    North -Carolina  and 
Rhode  Island  are  not  recognized  as  owners  of  the  Ship. 
5* 


54  MASSACHUSETTS    CEXTINEL. 

allusions  contained  in  it  are  not  readily  understood  ;  and 
perhaps  the  application  of  its  satire,  in  some  instances, 
may,  at  the  present  day,  be  deemed  hardly  justifiable ; 
but  that  was  not  the  day  when  newspaper  editors  and 
their  correspondents  hesitated  to  speak  their  thoughts 
freely,  and  with  a  freedom,  which  was  afterwards  digni 
fied  with  the  epithet  libelous,  and  attributed  to  the 
licentiousness  of  the  Press  :  — 

Notwithstanding  the  medical  exertions  of  a  celebrated  Physician  —  the 
prescriptions  of  three  gubernatorial  Esculapians  —  and  the  endeavors 
of  the  whole  fraternity  of  State  QuacJcs  and  Mountebanks  to  prolong  its 
existence  —  in  convulsions  the  most  violent — in  contortions  and 
wreathings  the  most  painful,  on  Wednesday  last,  finished  its  wicked 
career, 

The  Genius  of  Antifederalism. 

It  was  born  in  August,  1787  — was  aged  17  months.  Though  thus  cut 
off  in  its  childhood,  it  still  lived  to  do  much  mischief;  and  to  have 
grown  so  detestable,  that  even  its  friends  —  its  foster-parents,  shewed 
the  utmost  resentment  whenever  called  by  its  name :  It  has,  however 
expired,  a  striking  instance  of  the  truth  of  the  adage,  — "  The  uncked 
shaft  not  live  half  their  days." 

On  WEDNESDAY,  MABCH  4th,  the  funeral  obsequies  will  be  con 
summated  —  when  a  GRAND  PROCESSION  will  be  formed. 

ORDER  OF  THE  PROCESSION. 
The    DEMON    of    REBELLION, 

drawn  in  a  flarning  Car,  by  Ignorance,  J&iavery,  and  Idleness. 

DAXLEL  SH-TS,  and  JOHX  FK-XKLIK, 

armed  with  levelers  in  their  right,  and  halters  in  their  left  hands. 
DAT,  SHATTUCK,  &c.  &c,  their  followers,  two  and  two,  each  with 

caps  and  bells. 
Several  " great  men"  their  abettors,  in  disguise. 

CHIEF  PHTSICIAX — 

Supporters,  H-3  Supporters, 

Injustice,  ~-  Knavery, 


Abuse,  O  Defamation, 

o 

Prevarication,  ^  Falsehood. 

His  SATANIC  MAJESTY— Chief  Mourner. 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  55 

His  standard  —  motto  —  "  The  prop  of  my 

Empire  is  fallen" 

A  KNOW- YE  Rhode-Islander — and  a  pine-barren  Carolinian,  in 

sackcloth,  with  brazen  helmets  —  crest  "  A  Highwayman 

robbing  by  law"  motto  —  "  'Tis  power  which 

sanctifies  a  crime." 
A  cart  drawn  by  Fraud — with  Paper-Money,  Tender-Laws,  &c. 

the  sides  painted,  "  Be  it  enacted,"  &c. 

The  GODDESS  of  DISCORD  — in  weepers. 

—  In  her  right  hand  a  torch  expiring  —  in  her  left  a  bloody 

sword  broken. 
BENEDICT  ARNOLD,  SILAS  DEANE,  &c.  with  swords  embossed, 

"  In  '75  we  were  right" 
A  standard,  motto,  "  Birds  of  a  feather  flock  together." 

Hon.  PATRICK  H-NRT,  of  Virginia, 

Bearing  a  scroll,  with  the  words,   "  In  the  creation  of  TWO 
Confederacies  are  all  my  hopes  of  greatness" 

His  Excel.  G.  CL-NT-N,  Esq. 

In  both  hands  a  Purse,   tied  up.     The  words  thereon, 
"If  New-York  loses  the  Impost,  Hose  thee." 

The  GENIUS  of  IMBECILITY, 

In  a  car  —  painted  on  both  sides  with  hieroglyphicks-  "A  ship 
rotting  in  the  harbor.  —  An  English  Crow  picking  the  Eagle's  eyes  out  — 
the  Eagle  asleep ;  his  talons  cut  —  an  American  fort,  with  English  colors  — 
a  rusty  sword  —  a  broken  ploughshare  —  starving  mechanics  —  broken 
merchants,  fyc" 

200    Wrongheads,  two  and  two. 

"  While  we  're  in,  let 's  keep  in." 
A  WOLF,   covered  with  the  golden  fleece  of   a  LAMB,  marked 

40001.  per  ann. 

The    Geniuses  of  the   Philad.    Gazetteer  —  New- York  Journal  — 
Boston  Gazette,  &c.  in  their  original  blackness; 

"  The  days  of  our  years  are  evil  and  few" 
A  cart,  with  antifederal  Pamphlets,  Essays,  Protests,  &c.  in  reams, 

marked  "waste-paper" 
GALEN  and  the  Junto  —  two  and  two. 
The  GODDESS  of  POVERTY  — in  tatters  — 
" Follow  me,  my  sons"  she  cries, 
"  We  do,"  each  scribbler  replies. 
A  dray  with  stumps  of  pens,  broken  inkstands,  &c. 
Antifederal  Scribblers,  in  dishabille,  two  and  two,  chaunting  the 
following  lines :  —  Who  will  close  the  Procession. 


56  MASSACHUSETTS     CENTINEL. 

Our  prospects  how  fleeting,  how  feeble  our  cause, 

Engag'd  as  we  Ve  been,  in  subverting  the  laws  : 

Though  we  Ve  spread  far  and  wide  our  libels  and  lies, 

And  Antics  at  heart,  assum'd  Freedom's  fair  guise. 

Tho'  WASHINGTON,  and  FRANKLIN,  each  scribbler  defames, 

And  slanders  with  malice  their  actions  and  names ; 

Though  ADAMS,  and  JAY,  and  your  HAMILTON  too, 

Are  libel'd  and  black'd  by  each  cur  of  our  crew ; 

Tho'  we  Ve  slander'd  you  much  both  abroad  and  at  home, 

And  strove  to  demolish  the  FEDERAL  DOME, 

Yet  finding  our  Genius  to  Erebus  fled, 

And  in  its  disease  all  our  prospects  lie  dead, 

The  time  of  contrition  's  assuredly  come  — 

And  we  wait  from  the  Feds  our  sentence  and  doom. 

But  with  truth  we  can  say,  what  we  fear  to  deny, 

That  we  Ve  felt  heretofore,  as  if  telling  a  lie. 

While  engag'd  in  this  cause  we  seldom  had  rest, 

For  the  gnaw-worm  of  conscience  has  tortur'd  our  breast  — 

Then  forgive  us,  ye  Feds,  though  we  ask  it  thus  late  — 

Our  grief  is  sincere  as  our  crimes  have  been  great 

It  was  in  the  course  of  the  following  winter  that  a 
series  of  essays  over  the  signature  of  LACO  *  appeared 
in  the  Centinel,  intended  to  affect  the  re-election  of 
Governor  Hancock  —  against  whose  administration  some 
dissatisfaction  had  manifested  itself.  These  essays  were 
written  in  a  style  not  unworthy  of  a  Junius.  They 
were  severe,  but  not  unmannerly.  Many  were  startled 
at  the  exposure  of  the  Governor's  faults  and  weaknesses, 
who  had  never  before  indulged  a  thought  that  he  was 
not  as  perfect  as  a  created  man  could  be.  Laco  was 
attacked,  by  several  writers  in  the  Centinel,  and  most 
ferociously  abused  in  the  Chronicle,  both  by  the  editors 
and  their  correspondents.  The  real  author  of  these 
essays  was  not  immediately  known,  and  the  bitterness  of 

*  Stephen  Higginson,  an  eminent  merchant  of  Boston. 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  57 

his  opponents  seemed  to  increase  with  every  baffled 
attempt  to  discover  him. 

Russell  was  a  great  stickler  for  honorary  titles.  Soon 
after  the  constitution  went  into  operation,  a  newspaper 
discussion  sprung  up  on  the  question  whether  any,  and 
if  any,  what  titles  should  be  given  to  the  President, 
Vice-President,  Members  of  Congress,  and  Cabinet 
Ministers.  The  Centinel  made  a  hard  push  for  high- 
sounding  titles — the  Chronicle  and  Boston  Gazette 
fought  as  boldly  against  them.  A  correspondent  of  the 
Centinel  proposed  that  the  President  should  be  addressed 
as  "  His  Majesty  the  President  of  the  United  States," 
and  to  this  proposition  Russell  yielded  his  cordial  assent. 
He  also  proposed  that  the  address  of  the  Vice-President 
should  be  "  His  Excellency;"  —  that  of  a  Senator 
"Most  Honorable;"  —  and  that  of  a- Representative 
"  Honorable."  In  accordance  with  this  scale  of  dignity, 
these  different  degrees  of  honor  were  sometimes  used, 
but  the  practice  was  not  ratified  by  the  public  sentiment. 
The  Centinel,  on  some  occasions,  would  say  —  "  Yes 
terday  the  Most  Honorable ,  Esq.  set  out  on  his 

journey  to  New-York,"  "  The  Honorable ,  Esq. 

yesterday  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Representatives," 
&c.  Whatever  title  was  placed  before  a  name,  Russell 
always  put  "  Esq."  at  the  end  of  it ;  and  this  was  his 
uniform  practice.  No  man,  who  had  ever  been  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  was  spoken  of  in 
the  Centinel,  while  Russell  was  its  editor,  without  these 
additions  to  his  name.* 

*  It  is  still  common  in  Massachusetts,  to  address  our  Senators  as  "  Honorable 

Mr.  ,"  though  they  have  no  more  claim  to  the  distinction,  either  by  law 

or  courtesy,  than  any  other  individuals.  The  custom  is  ineffably  ridiculous,  and 
is  a  legitimate  subject  for  the  pen  of  the  satirist. 


58  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 


THE   COLUMBIAN  CENTINEL. 

On    the    16th    of    June,    1790,    the    Centinel    was 
published    with    this  new  title    on  an    enlarged   sheet, 
with  improved  typography,  and  containing  the  following 
address 
To  THE  PATRONS  OF  THE  CENTINEL. 

The  multiplicity  of  political  events,  which  are  daily  augmenting  as 
the  United  States  progress  as  a  CONFEDERATED  REPUBLIC,  has  induced 
the  editor  to  increase  THE  CENTINEL  to  the  respectable  size,  in  which 
it  this  day  appears ;  without  any  immediate  advance  of  price.  At  TWO 
DOLLARS  per  annum,  THE  CENTINEL  is  the  cheapest  paper  ever  printed 
in  this  or  any  other  part  of  America ;  and  the  Editor  wishes  long  to  be 
able  to  adhere  to  that  price :  If,  however,  Experience  should  make  him 
feel  that  it  is  too  low ;  and  cruel  Necessity  should  oblige  him  to  raise 
it —  the  principle  of  gratitude  for  past  favors  will  constrain  him  not  to 
increase  the  half-yearly  charge  more  than  Eight  Pence;  and  in  this 
small  addition,  he  doubts  not  his  liberal  Patrons  will  cheerfully  acqui 
esce.  Due  notice  will  be  given  of  the  period  when  the  rise,  if  neces 
sary,  shall  take  place.  —  At  present,  Calculation  designates  the  middle 
of  September,  when  the  semi-annual  accounts  of  THE  CENTINEL  are 
usually  made  out  —  HOPE  points  to  a  period  more  remote. 

At  all  times,  the  Editor  has  felt  the  liveliest  emotions  of  gratitude 
for  the  patronage  he  has  received  —  and  he  has  embraced  every  oppor 
tunity  of  acknowledging  that  such  have  been  his  impressions :  On  the 
present  occasion  he  presents  his  Patrons  the  renewed  tribute  of  un 
feigned  thanks  for  their  friendship  and  partiality. 

BENJAMIN  RUSSELL. 

From  this  date  the  Centinel  took  a  decided  and  high 
rank  among  the  newspapers  that  were  springing  up  in 
every  part  of  the  country.  The  advertising  custom 
rapidly  increased,  and  the  income  soon  became  sufficient 
to  insure  a  pecuniary  independence  to  the  proprietor. 
It  took  strong  ground  in  support  of  Washington,  and  all 
the  measures  of  the  federal  administration.  Washing 
ton  was  accused  by  the  persons,  who  had  opposed  the 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL  59 

constitution,  of  entertaining  an  undue  partiality  for 
England,  and  wanting  in  gratitude  to  France.  Mr. 
Adams,  the  Vice-President,  and  Mr.  Hamilton,  Secre 
tary  of  the  Treasury,  were  also  placed  under  the  ban  of 
the  opposition,  and  pursued  with  relentless  ferocity. 
The  Centinel,  as  the  leading  journal  of  the  Federalists 
of  Massachusetts,  ably  defended  the  administration,  and 
pushed  the  war  most  vigorously  into  the  ranks  of  the 
opposition. 

While  Congress  was  holding  its  first  session,  Russell 
wrote  to  the  Department  of  State,  and  offered  to  publish 
gratuitously,  all.  the  laws  and  other  official  documents  — 
the  country  being  then  almost  or  quite  bankrupt.  All 
laws  and  other  papers  emanating  from  the  various  de 
partments  of  the  government,  were  accordingly  trans 
mitted  to  him  and  were  published  "  by  authority."  At 
the  end  of  several  years,  he  was  called  upon  for  his  bill. 
It  was  made  out,  and  in  compliance  with  his  pledge,  was 
receipted.  On  being  informed  of  the  fact,  General 
Washington  said, — "This  must  not  be.  When  Mr. 
Russell  offered  to  publish  the  laws  without  pay,  we 
were  poor.  It  was  a  generous  offer.  We  are  now  able 
to  pay  our  debts.  This  is  a  debt  of  honor,  and  must  be 
discharged."  A  few  days  after,  Russell  received  a 
check  for  seven  thousand  dollars,  the  full  amount  of  his 
bill. 

About  this  time  began  the  warfare  between  the  Cen 
tinel  and  the  Chronicle,  which  lasted  till  after  the  close 
of  the  war  of  1812.  The  Centinel  being  the  organ  of 
the  Federalists,  and  the  Chronicle  that  of  the  Jaco 
bins, —  as  the  opposition  was  then  called, — the  col 
umns  of  both  papers  teemed  with  hostility  and  invective, 


60  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

and  frequently  with  not  a  little  of  vulgar  abuse.  Per 
sons,  who  have  a  taste  for  this  sort  of  reading,  by  re 
ferring  to  the  files  of  these  papers  for  twenty-five  years 
following  1790,  will  find  abundant  matter  for  its  gratifi 
cation.  Irritating  personal  reflections  and  altercations 
were  frequent,  and  some  times  led  to  rencontres 
of  a  disagreeable  nature.  These  mutually  exaspera 
ting  remarks  upon  the  editors  and  their  correspondents 
produced  an  affray,  which  will  be  best  learned  from  the 
annexed  article,  which  appeared  in  the  American 
Apollo.  Russell  never  alluded  to  the  affair  in  his 
paper  until  after  the  trial  for  the  offence  he  was  alleged 
to  have  committed  ;  nor  would  he  even  then,  proba 
bly,  had  he  not  been  prompted  by  some  of  his 
friends.  The  report  appeared  in  the  Apollo  of  March 
29,  1793,  and  undoubtedly  embraces  an  authentic  state 
ment  of  the  facts  in  the  case :  — 

In  the  month  of  January,  1792,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Bos 
ton  were  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  passing  a  final  determination 
upon  a  question,  which  had  been  long  in  agitation,  and  upon  which 
they  all  felt  interested  in  the  highest  degree.  The  meeting  was  very 
numerous,  and  the  hall  in  which  they  were  assembled  much  crowded. 
When  the  question  was  taken,  the  moderator  declared  himself  unable 
to  determine,  by  the  show  of  hands,  which  side  had  prevailed ;  it  was 
therefore  agreed  to  adopt  another  method  of  ascertaining  the  majority : 
that  those  who  were  on  one  side  should  all  go  out  of  the  hall,  and  that 
the  selectmen,  together  with  two  persons  then  to  be  chosen,  one  from 
either  side,  should  stand  at  the  door  of  the  hall,  and  count  ihe  voters  as 
they  should  pass ;  after  which  those  of  the  other  party  should  go  out 
and  be  counted  in  the  same  manner.  In  pursuance  of  this  agreement, 
Benjamin  Austin,  jun.  was  chosen  as  the  teller  on  one  side,  and  ac 
cepted  the  office.  Dr.  Jarvis,  Dr.  Eustis,  and  Mr.  Lucas  were  then 
successively  chosen  for  the  other  side,  and  declined  serving ;  upon  which 
Benjamin  Eussell  was  chosen  and  accepted  the  trust.  Immediately 
upon  which,  Mr.  Austin,  who  was  near  the  middle  of  the  hall,  and  had 
been  making  his  way  towards  the  door,  turned  round,  addressed  the 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  61 

moderator,  and  said,  he  must  decline  serving ;  that  he  would  cheerfully 
serve  with  Dr.  Jarvis,  Dr.  Eustis,  or  any  other  gentleman,  but  not  with 
such  a  fellow  as  Ben  Russell. 

The  next  day  after  this  Mr.  Russell,  upon  being  asked  whether  he 
did  not  intend  to  resent  the  insult  he  had  received  the  day  before,  said 
he  would  ask  him  whether  he  meant  it  as  a  personal  affront  to  him,  or 
as  a  general  reflection  upon  him  as  a  tradesman ;  and  if  he  should 
answer  the  former,  he  would  spit  in  his  face  and  wring  his  nose.  Ac 
cordingly  he  sought  Mr.  Austin  upon  the  exchange,  and  when  he  had 
found  him,  asked  the  question  just  mentioned ;  to  which  Mr.  Austin 
answered  that  he  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  Ben  Eussell ;  and 
afterwards  added,  that  he  did  not  choose  to  put  himself  upon  a  par 
with  Ben  Russell.  Upon  this  denial  of  satisfaction,  and  repetition  of 
insult,  Russell  did  as  he  had  threatened,  spit  in  his  face,  and  reproached 
him  with  virulent  and  abusive  language. 

Such,  as  appeared  in  evidence,  was  the  transaction  upon  which  the 
action  was  grounded,  in  which  the  plaintiff  laid  his  damages  at  one 
thousand  pounds ;  and,  by  way  of  aggravating  the  offence,  he  had 
alleged  that,  at  the  time  when  it  happened,  he  was  a  Senator  for  the 
county  of  Suffolk,  and  that  the  Senate  was  then  in  session. 

The  defence  made  by  Mr.  Russell's  counsel  upon  the  trial,  was  of 
two  kinds.  First,  they  denied  the  fact.  Upon  this,  however,  they  laid 
but  little  stress.  They  were  sensible  of  its  weakness :  for  it  was  sup 
ported  only  by  the  acknowledgement  of  the  plaintiff  himself.  It  was 
proved  that  Mr.  Austin  had,  in  conversation  with  several  members  of 
the  Senate,  denied  that  Russell  had  spit  in  his  face ;  but  it  was  also 
proved  that,  at  another  time,  he  had  said  his  agitation  of  mind  was  so 
extreme  at  the  time,  that  he  did  not  know  whether  he  had  been  spitten 
upon  or  not.  In  common  cases,  the  confession  of  the  party  is  the  best 
evidence  that  can  be  offered  against  him  ;  but,  in  the  present  instance, 
where  it  was  variant  from  itself,  incredible  in  its  own  nature,  and  con 
tradicted  by  positive  and  credible  evidence,  it  could  not  be  expected  to 
have  any  weight  with  the  jury,  and  the  defendant's  counsel,  therefore, 
placed  but  little  reliance  upon  it.  Their  second  and  substantial  point 
was,  in  mitigation  of  damages ;  they  contended  that  although  the  jury, 
as  the  organs  of  the  law,  must  pronounce  Mr.  Russell  guilty,  yet  they 
could  not  consider  the  injury  in  any  other  than  a  very  trivial  light  as  it 
respected  the  plaintiff.  He  had  drawn  it  upon  himself.  In  the 
presence  of  twelve  hundred  of  their  fellow-citizens,  he  had  outrageously 
insulted  a  man,  whose  situation  in  life  was  very  far  from  being  disrep 
utable  :  he  had  thus  insulted  him,  without  assigning  any  reason  what 
ever  for  so  doing,  and  at  a  moment  when  the  object  of  the  insult  had 


62  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

received  a  mark  of  respect  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  by  an 
appointment  to  execute  a  duty,  in  their  opinion,  of  considerable  im 
portance.  When  called  upon  by  this  injured  man,  to  explain  himself, 
and  to  avow  the  principle  upon  which  he  had  treated  him  so  contemptu 
ously,  instead  of  giving  the  satisfaction  so  justly  required,  he  had 
repeated  the  insult,  with  circumstances  of  additional  aggravation.  It 
was  an  injury,  which  no  man  of  common  spirit  could  endure ;  yet  it  was 
of  such  a  nature,  that  the  laws  of  the  country  had  not  provided  any 
remedy  for  the  sufferer.  If,  under  a  sense  of  indignation  at  such  treat 
ment,  Mr.  Russell's  resentment  had  hurried  him  beyond  the  limits  of 
moderation,  and  led  him  to  take  his  own  satisfaction,  by  retorting  upon 
the  offender,  an  insult  of  a  still  higher  nature,  he  could  riot  indeed  be 
justified  for  his  violation  of  the  rigid  letter  of  the  law,  but  surely  the 
disgrace  inflicted  upon  the  plaintiff  could  not  entitle  him  to  any  consid 
erable  compensation  in  damages:  that,  as  to  his  Senatorial  capacity, 
the  respect  and  veneration  of  the  people,  in  a  free  republican  govern 
ment,  was  due  to  the  public  offices  themselves,  not  to  the  men  who  hold 
them :  That  it  was  ridiculous  to  suppose  the  honor  or  reputation  of 
any  man  could  be  the  more  or  the  less  precious  to  him,  from  the  cir 
cumstances  of  his  being  in  a  public  character ;  and  that,  as  he  was  not, 
at  the  time  when  the  affair  occurred,  in  the  execution  of  his  office,  he 
could  not  be  considered  in  a  different  light  from  any  other  citizen  under 
similar  circumstances. J •  ••:''- 

Upon  this  defence,  the  opinion  of  the  Court  was  unanimous,  that 
the  previous  insult  offered  by  the  plaintiff  was  a  proper  subject  of  con 
sideration  by  the  jury,  in  mitigation  of  damages.  As  to  the  point 
whether  his  Senatorial  character  was  a  legal  circumstance  of  aggrava 
tion,  there  was  some  diversity  of  opinion.  Judge  Dawes  thought  it 
was  a  principle,  upon  which  every  man  must  judge  for  himself;  and 
therefore  left  it  altogether  to  the  jury.  Judge  Sumner  inclined  to  the 
supposition  that  it  was  not  any  subject  of  aggravation  except  when  the 
plaintiff  is  in  the  actual  execution  of  his  official  duties.  Judge  Paine 
and  the  Chief  Justice  were  clear  and  decided,  that  it  was  a  circumstance 
of  aggravation,  and  that  it  ought  to  have  great  weight  with  a  jury  in 
the  estimation  of  damages  ;  at  the  same  time,  they  expressed,  in  as  full 
and  unequivocal  a  manner,  the  sentiment  that  no  official  rank  or  dig 
nity  whatever  could  authorize  the  man  invested  with  it,  wantonly  to 
insult  the  feelings  of  even  the  humblest  member  of  the  community; 
that,  if  a  man  clothed  with  authority  would  descend  from  his  eminence 
to  injure  a  private  citizen,  he  ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  draw  after  him 
the  atmosphere  of  bis  elevation  for  his  protection. 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  63 

The  jury,  after  retiring  for  a  few  minutes,  returned  with  a  verdict, 
finding  guilty,  and  assessing  damages  for  the  plaintiff  in  the  sum  of 
twenty  shillings. 

Of  the  political  doggerels  that  were  published  in  the 
Centinel,  in  this  early  stage  of  the  party  strife,  the  fol 
lowing  is  a  specimen  :  — 

SONG. 

To  be  sung  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  the  Jacobin  Club  in  this  town : 
Stanzas  by  the  President  and  Officers,  —  Chorus  by  the  united  voices 
of  the  whole  Fraternity.  The  taste  of  the  Society  would  rather  have 
preferred  the  music  of  Ca  Ira,  but  as  that  respectable  body  loves  to 
turn  things  topsy-turvy,  it  finally  agreed  upon  a  perversion  of  the 
old  "  Rule  Britannia." 

When  first  CONFUSION'S  tattered  train 

From  Night  and  gloomy  Anarch  rose, 
This  was  the  measure  of  the  strain, 
And  this  the  matchless  theme  they  chose :  — 
Mule,  Confusion,  rule  the  Free  ; 
Order  shall  submit  to  thee. 
'Tis  ours  to  bid  Ambition  drop, 

To  bid  the  germ  of  Genius  fade, 
To  clip  the  golden  wings  of  Hope, 
And  scorn  the  Hero's  sainted  shade  :  — 

Rule,  Confusion,  frc. 
While  peaceful  Virtue  joys  to  find 

Protective  Law's  pacific  reign, 
Ours  is  the  bold  unbiased  Mind, 
And  ours  the  War-exciting  strain  :  — 

Rule,  Confusion,  fyc. 
So  from  the  dread  volcano's  breath, 

The  mingling  elements  are  driven, 
That  blast  the  yellow-waving  heath, 
And  dim  the  sparkling  eye  of  Heaven :  — 

Rule,  Confusion,  frc. 
No  son  of  science  e'er  shall  tread 

With  classic  step  this  ritual  ground  ; 
Ne'er  shall  the  ray  of  Genius  she.d 
Its  visionary  light  around  :  — 
Rule,  Confusion,  <J-c, 


64  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

But  Gallic  counsels  shall  preside, 

And  Gallic  hopes  inspire  the  soul 
To  trample  on  the  statesman's  pride, 
And  give  to  Anarchy  the  whole  :  — 

Rule,  Confusion,  fyc. 
Dear  Goddess  of  the  Gorgon  Eye ! 
'Tis  thine  to  bid  the  Arts  decay, 
To  bid  the  Child  of  Genius  die 
And  tear  his  laureled  crown  away :  — 

Rule,  Confusion,  fyc. 
So  when  the  bickering  flame  extends 

To  earth,  the  trophied  marble  bows  ; 
No  more  the  sculptured  dome  ascends, 
No  more  the  breathing  canvas  glows: 

Rule,  Confusion,  fyc. 
"With  equal  passion,  equal  power, 

Around  each  jetty  brother  stands ; 
For  equal  Wisdom  guides  the  hour, 
And  equal  Honesty  commands 

Rule,  Confusion,  rule  the  Free, 
Vanquished  Order  bows  to  thee. 

April  9,  1794. 

In  1795,  the  Spirit  of  Federalism  began  to  manifest 
the  maturity  of  its  strength  in  the  Centinel.  It  was  in 
that  year  that  the  ratification  of  the  commercial  treaty 
with  Great-Britain,  (generally  called  Jay's  treaty)  cre 
ated  great  popular  excitement.  The  Jacobin  societies, 
which  had  then  become  numerous  throughout  the  Union, 
were  violent  in  their  opposition.  Mobs  were  frequent  in 
the  large  cities  and  towns,  and  Boston  was  rather  infa 
mously  distinguished  by  these  popular  demonstrations  of 
dissatisfaction.  For  several  nights  in  succession,  com 
panies  of  mischief-loving  individuals  paraded  the  streets, 
carrying  an  effigy  of  Mr.  Jay,  and  other  emblems  of 
mobocracy,  making  night  hideous  with  their  shouts  and 
brawls.  One  of  the  devices  carried  in  these  nocturnal 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  65 

processions,  was  an  illuminated  shell  of  a  water-melon, 
representing  a  man's  face,  accompanied  by  a  scurrilous 
label.  The  Centinel,  as  usual,  was  on  the  side  of  order 
and  law,  and  denounced  the  mobs  and  their  leaders  in 
terms  like  the  following  :  —  "  The  laws  prostrate,  —  the 
magistrates  literally  trodden  under  foot — women  and 
children  frightened  —  bonfires  made  in  the  centre  of  the 
town  —  oaths  and  imprecations,  united  with  threats  to 
tear  the  hearts  of  magistrates  from  their  breasts,  and 
roast  them  at  a  fire  :  "  —  such,  it  said,  was  a  sad  picture, 
but  a  true  one.  Application  was  made  to  Governor 
Adams  for  the  exercise  of  his  authority  to  put  a  stop  to 
these  outrages ;  but  he  excused  himself  from  any  inter 
ference,  and  turned  off  the  applicants,  it  was  said,  with 
a  declaration,  that  it  was  nothing  but  a  water-melon 
frolic.  After  the  actors  in  these  scenes  had  become 
tired  of  their  sport,  and  the  excitement  had  in  some  de 
gree  passed  away,  some  one  wrote  for  the  Centinel  a 
series  of  communications,  entitled  "  A  brief  History  of 
the  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  recent  Mobs  and  Riots," 
which  contain  many  facts,  valuable  to  those  who  seek  to 
be  familiar  with  the  early  history  of  the  two  great  politi 
cal  parties,  which,  for  half  a  century,  struggled  for  the 
balance  of  power. 

It  was  about  this  time  (perhaps  a  little  earlier) 
that  the  celebrated  Monsieur  Talleyrand,  who,  after 
wards  acted  so  prominent  a  part  in  the  negotiations  be 
tween  the  French  Directory  and  the  Envoys  of  the 
United  States,  was  in  Boston,  and  frequently  visited  the 
editor  of  the  Centinel.  Louis  Philippe  and  one  of  his 
brothers  were  also  there  at  the  same  time.  Louis  was 
introduced  to  Russell  by  Talleyrand.  The  French  ex- 


66  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

iles  lived  with  another  French  exile,  or  emigrant,  a  tailor, 
by  the  name  of  Amblard,  who  kept  a  shop  at  the  corner 
of  State-street  and  Wilson's  lane,  where  the  Globe  Bank 
now  stands.  They  were  frequent  visitors  at  the  Centi- 
nel  office,  and  especially  on  the  occasion  of  every  fresh 
arrival  from  Europe,  to  learn  the  news  from  their  coun 
try.  Russell  had  regular  files  of  the  Moniteur,  the 
official  journal  of  the  Directory,  which  to  these  exiles 
was  peculiarly  interesting.  At  one  of  these  visits,  they 
observed  Russell  taking  snuff  from  a  parcel  in  a  bit  of 
brown  paper,  and  asked  him  if  he  had  no  other  snuff 
box.  He  replied,  he  could  not  afford  a  better.  The 
next  day  Talleyrand  brought  a  gold  one  and  presented 
to  him.  "  This,  (said  Russell,)  I  kept  many  years.  It 
suddenly  vanished ;  by  what  agency  I  never  knew ;  but 
suspected  that  my  better  half  popped  it  into  the  crucible." 
While  he  resided  in  Boston,  Louis  Philippe  opened  a 
school  for  teaching  the  French  language,  and  received 
his  pupils  at  the  house  of  Amblard.  As  an  acknow 
ledgment  of  the  civilities  he  had  received  from  Russell, 
he  presented  to  him  an  Atlas,  and  a  French  work  on 
Geography.  The  Atlas  was  of  great  service  to  Russell. 
It  was  always  on  his  table,  and  he  seldom  wrote  or 
published  an  article  concerning  the  movements  of  the 
hostile  armies  in  Europe,  without  referring  to  it  to  authen 
ticate  the  intelligence. 

In  1796,  the  bills  making  appropriations  for  carrying 
into  effect  the  treaty  with  Great-Britain,  were  subjects 
of  long,  interesting,  and  angry  debate  in  the  House  of 
Representatives.  The  bills  were  reported  in  the  early 
part  of  the  session,  but  met  with  powerful  and  obstinate 
opposition  in  both  houses  of  Congress.  In  many  towns 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  67 

in  Massachusetts,  the  people  held  meetings,  and  adopted 
petitions  to  Congress,  praying  for  a  speedy  determination 
of  the  business ;  but  the  bills  were  not  finally  passed  till 
the  fourth  of  May.  On  announcing  their  passage,  Rus 
sell  let  out  his  enthusiasm  in  strains  like  these  :  —  "  The 
Public  Spirit  of  Massachusetts  never  before  accorded  so 
truly  with  the  finest  chords  of  Federalism,  as  it  has  done, 
in  the  late  rising  en  masse  of  THE  PEOPLE,  to  make 
known  their  wishes  and  expectations  on  the  subject  of 
the  treaty.  Their  voice  has  been  heard  and  has  had 
its  due  influence.  The  CRISIS,  at  which  the  Peace, 
Happiness,  and  Prosperity  of  our  country  stood  sus 
pended,  has  passed  by;  Confidence  has  assumed  its 
wonted  security;  and  Business  again  trips  lightly  to  the 
music  of  the  sledge,  the  hammer,  and  the  axe.  On  the 
great  question  now  decided,  we  congratulate  our  Coun 
try.  It  will  be  a  memorable  era  in  the  history  of  the 
United  States." 

Again,  before  the  end  of  many  days,  his  extatic  emo 
tions  broke  out  in  the  following  manner :  — 
ALL  'S  WELL ! 

Is  still  the  watchword  of  the  Centinel,  notwithstanding  all  the  croak- 
ings  and  abuse  of  the  Havens  of  the  Chronicle.  Let  us  trace  the  truth. 

"  ALL   IS   WELL  " 

With  America's  guardian  friend,  THE  PRESIDENT.    He  is  now 

satisfied  in  seeing  the  great  end  of  all  his  toils  and  sufferings  attained  — 
the  Peace  and  Independence  of  his  country  secured. 

"  ALL   IS   WELL  " 

With  the  constituted  authorities  of  the  Union  —  the  first  and  second 
branches  having  given  being  to  the  Instrument  of  Peace;  and  a  majority 
of  the  "  immediate  Representatives  "  of  the  People  have  confirmed  its 
existence  by  making  for  its  support  the  most  ample  appropriations. 

"ALL  is  WELL" 

With  the  State  Governments.  Their  duty  is  easy,  and  the  taxes  of  their 
constituents  light. 


68  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

"ALL  is  WELL" 

With  the  Yeomanry  of  the  United  States.  They  have  prayed  for  the 
continuance  of  peace,  and  their  prayers  have  been  heard.  The  labors 
of  their  hands  prosper  and  flourish.  They  have  no  burdens  but  those 
they  wish  to  bear,  as  men  interested  in  the  support  of  good  government 
and  order.  They  have  borne  the  toils  of  war ;  they  are  now  reaping 
the  fruits  of  peace. 

"ALL  is  WELL" 

With  the  Merchants.  They  have,  as  with  one  voice,  prayed  as  the 
Farmers  have  prayed,  arid  have  been  heard  as  they  have  been  heard. 
Peace  still  continues  to  heap  blessings  on  their  enterprize.  Every  tide 
wafts  them  riches.  Every  gale  in  every  climate  swells  their  canvas. 

"ALL  is  WELL" 

With  the  Mechanics.  They,  too,  with  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  have 
prayed  for  Peace,  and  been  heard.  The  sound  of  every  instrument  of 
handicraft  and  industry  is  heard  from  the  rising  to  the  setting  sun,  from 
the  St.  Croix  to  the  St.  Mary's.  The  reward  of  their  laborious  toils  is 
sure  ;  and  the  industrious  man  now  sees  the  yearly  accumulation  of  his 
property  with  redoubled  satisfaction,  for  he  knows  that  under  the  reign 
of  good  order,  law,  and  government,  it  will  be  secured  to  him. 

"ALL  is  WELL" 

With  the  honest  American  Seamen,  maugre  all  the  lies  of  the  lying 
Aurora  and  copying  Chronicle.  *  *  *  *  * 

"ALL  is  WELL" 

With  the  Great  Body  of  the  People  of  the  United  States.  Nine  tenths  of 
them  have  given  their  voice  for  Peace.  Peace  is  secured  to  them,  and 
under  the  reign  of  Peace  their  skill,  industry,  and  enterprize,  will  tell 
the  world  that  with  them  "  all  is  well? 

"ALL  is  WELL" 

With  the  fair  Daughters  of  America.  Their  boding  fears  of  war  are 
dissipated.  Their  husbands,  fathers,  sons,  and  sweethearts  will  not  now 
be  called  from  domestic  life  to  encounter  the  perils  of  warfare.  Each 
hour  shall  bring  them  fresh  enjoyments,  and  in  every  instance  of  the 
prosperity  of  their  country,  they  will  tell  truly  that  "  all  is  well." 

When  General  Washington,  at  the  close  of  the  year 
1796,  declined  a  re-election  to  the  office  of  President, 
the  Centinel  warmly  and  zealously  advocated  the  election 
of  John  Adams,  and  was  a  faithful  supporter  of  his 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  69 

administration.  With  the  commencement  of  that  ad 
ministration,  the  war  between  the  two  political  parties 
grew  more  intensely  hot  and  bitter.  The  conduct  of 
the  ruling  powers  in  France,  —  the  attempts  of  the 
French  diplomatic  agents  in  our  sea-ports,  to  fit  out  ves 
sels  of  war  to  prey  on  the  commerce  of  Great-Britain,  — 
their  insulting  opposition  to  the  laws  of  the  country,  — 
and,  above  all,  the  spoliations  committed  by  French 
privateers  on  our  merchant  vessels,  and  the  indignities 
offered  to  our  envoys  in  Paris  by  the  French  Directory, 
were  topics  which  had  excited  the  most  acrid  feelings  of 
the  federal  party ;  while,  if  not  directly  approved,  they 
were  viewed  with  great  lenity  by  the  opposite  party. 
In  1797,  the  subject  of  permitting  American  merchant 
vessels  to  arm  and  defend  themselves,  was  agitated  in 
the  public  newspapers,  and  petitions,  from  various  quar 
ters,  were  sent  to  Congress  in  favor  of  the  measure. 
The  editor  of  the  Centinel  was  among  the  foremost  to 
urge  the  fitting  out  of  an  armed  force  for  protection. 
Several  articles  were  furnished  by  correspondents  ;  the 
following  is  one  of  his  own,  and  may  serve  as  a  specimen 
of  its  numerous  kindred  :  — 

ARM  !  OR  STARVE  !  The  Jacobins  to  a  man  are  opposed  to  arming 
our  vessels,  or  fitting  out  a  single  ship  of  war.  They  well  know,  that 
owing  to  French  gun  boat  piracies,  our  mechanics  and  artificers  are 
almost  starving  5  and  that  the  moment  Congress  gives  leave  to  our 
merchants  to  arm,  and  orders  our  naval  yards  to  commence  building 
new  ships,  that  they  will  find  full  employment  —  THIS  IS  FACT! 
The  moment  the  news  arrives  that  the  merchants  shall  have  liberty  to 
arm  their  vessels,  not  an  axe,  hammer,  or  mechanic  implement  will  be 
idle.  Business  will  assume  its  activity :  and  the  music  of  the  cunning 
workman  will  be  heard  on  all  our  wharves.  The  French  have  broken 
down  every  barrier  of  the  treaties  made  "  in  the  name  of  the  most  holy 
and  undivided  Trinity:"  They  have  declared,  in  the  teeth  of  those 
treaties  and  the  laws  of  nations,  that  the  ships  of  all  countries,  kindred, 


70  COLUMBIAN     CENTINEL. 

and  climes,  shall  be  a  good  prize  to  them,  if  they  have  a  bale  of  Eng 
lish  Goods  on  board,  and  bound  from  or  to  any  port.  Those  treaties 
and  the  laws  of  nations  give  belligerent  powers  the  right  to  search  neu 
tral  vessels.  But  as  the  French  have  declared  by  their  late  decree, 
that  they  were  null  and  void,  we  have  no  right  to  be  governed  by  them, 
as  they  respect  France ;  but  to  treat  their  citizens  as  we  would  pirates. 

The  ninth  of  May,  this  year,  by  appointment  of 
President  Adams,  was  observed  as  a  national  fast.  The 
Centinel,  issued  on  the  morning  of  that  day,  contained 
the  editor's  recommendation  to  an  observance  of  the 
day  in  a  strictly  religious  manner.  "  There  is  surely, 
(said  he,)  at  this  moment,  a  peculiar  fitness  and  propri 
ety  in  this  solemn  act  of  public  devotion.  When  the 
mad  ambition  of  a  foreign  nation  threatens  our  liberty 
and  independence,  —  when,  notwithstanding  the  re 
peated  efforts  of  our  Executive,  to  continue  to  us  the 
inestimable  blessings  of  peace,  we  have  too  much  reason 
to  dread  that  war,  with  all  its  train  of  calamities  is  at 
hand;  —  it  highly  becomes  us  to  offer  up  our  supplica 
tions,  that  our  country  may  be  protected  from  all  the 
dangers  that  threaten  us,  and  that  the  American  people 
may  be  united  in  those  bonds  of  amity  and  mutual  con 
fidence,  and  inspired  with  that  vigor  and  fortitude,  by 
which  they  have,  in  times  past,  been  so  highly  distin 
guished.  And  although  we  have  abundant  cause  to 
humble  ourselves  before  the  throne  of  Heaven,  to 
acknowledge  our  dependence  on  the  blessings  of  Provi 
dence  ;  we  would  not  be  unmindful  that  we  have  also 
ample  reasons  for  rendering  our  devout  and  fervent 
Thanksgivings  for  the  unrivaled  happiness  and  prosperity 
which  we  have  hitherto  enjoyed.  While  the  old  nations 
of  Europe  have  been  daily  witnesses  of  the  most  horrid 
scenes  of  bloodshed  and  devastation,  we  have  been 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  71 

suffered  in  peace  and  tranquility,  and  under  the  best  con 
stitution  of  government  enjoyed  by  any  nation  on  earth, 
to  arrive  to  a  point  of  national  strength  and  opulence, 
never  before  attained  by  any  country  in  so  short  a  space 
of  time.'' 

If  any  discrepance  should  be  thought  to  exist  between 
the  sentiments  here  expressed  and  those  of  the  last  pre 
ceding  extract,  it  must  be  accounted  for  by  that  fervency 
of  patriotism  which  avails  itself  of  various  and  some 
times  conflicting  arguments,  to  effect  a  favorite  object. 

As  an  offset  to  the  "  Psalm  for  Fast  Day,"  which  had 
been  published  in  the  Chronicle,*  the  Centinel  gave  the 
following  as 

THE  JACOBIN'S  PSALM, 

For  Fast  Day  —  to  the  tune  of  Psalm  U8th. 
Ye  tribes  diminished  join, 
With  Jacobinic  prayer, 
To  curse  the  powers  divine, 
And  earthly  powers  that  are : 
And  let,  this  day, 
All  Democrats, 
And  owls,  and  rats, 
Shout  heaven  away. 

Thy  voice,  oh  !  J n,  t 

Oft  tried  in  wicked  wiles, 

Raise  loud,  with  G n,  t 

And  noted,  simple  G s,  t 

Thou  V — n-m  too,t 
Half  wise  as  G — s,  t 
Whose  wit  beguiles, 
The  tempest  brew. 
The  French  Republic  stands 

On  drunken  pillars  five, 

Upraised  with  palsied  hands, 

And  scarcely  kept  alive. 

*  See  vol.  i  p.  283.  t  Jefferson,  Gallatui,  Giles,  Varnum,  Giles. 


72  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

Directory  speaks  — 
And  justice  flies, 
And  honor  dies ; 

The  bubble  breaks. 

They  move  the  crazy  wheels 

Of  governmental  jar : 
Plunder  their  coffers  fills, 

And  plunder  prompts  the  war. 
Ye  few  who  Ve  chains, 
Join  heart  and  hand, 
And  firmly  stand 
By  Gallic  chains. 

Let  our  ignoble  race, 

A  patriotic  few, 
When  Satan's  arms  embrace, 
Loud  shout  the  cry  and  hue, 
For  France,  for  France, 
Well  boldly  bawl, 
And,  one  and  all, 
We'll  join  the  dance. 

O  praise  our  Gallic  friends, 

However  vile  they  are  : 
Lo,  now  our  party  ends, 
Let  us  for  France  prepare. 
The  honest  tribes 
We  cheat  no  more ; 
Our  day  is  o'er ; 
And  gone  our  bribes. 

Columbia's  guillotine 

Will  find  each  patriot  head : 
We'll  go,  by  night  unseen, 
Glide  o'er  the  ocean's  bed. 
Our  hopes  are  gone, 
Our  Dev'l  forsakes, 
Destruction  takes, 
For  Heaven  we've  none. 

Ye  Gallic  Printers,  strain 
Your  last,  your  languid  cry ; 

You've  curst  both  God  and  men, 
Now  curse  yourselves  and  die. 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  73 

Quick  off  we'll  creep, 

Or  stony  gaol 

Won't  surely  fail 
Our  limbs  to  keep. 

Congress,  your  wrath  forego ; 

We're  punished  now  enough ; 
Nor  send,  in  gondalo, 
Our  patriot  bodies  off. 
We'll  drive  full  well 
Our  honest  selves, 
Like  subtle  elves, 
To  France  or  hell. 

Ye  clouds  of  dust  and  smoke, 

Ye  lightnings,  in  your  ire, 
Our  sorry  gullets  choke, 
And  blast  us  with  your  fire. 
Our  game  is  up  ; 
Our  shame  and  sin 
Shall  settle  in 
Oblivion's  cup. 

The  year  1798  has  been  signalized  by  the  opponents 
of  Adams's  administration  as  the  Era  of  the  Black 
Cockade  ;  —  perhaps  not  inappropriately,  as  that  badge 
was  generally  worn  by  the  Federalists  of  Massachu 
setts.  Russell,  it  has  been  said,  was  the  instigator  of 
the  fashion.  I  know  not  how  that  may  be  ;  but  the 
first  allusion  to  it,  that  I  remember,  was  in  the  Centinel 
of  July  4,  as  follows  :  — 

It  has  been  repeatedly  recommended,  that  our  citizens  wear  in  their 
hats  on  the  day  of  Independence,  the  American  Cockade,  (which  is  a 
Rose,  composed  of  black  ribbon,  with  a  white  button,  or  fastening)  and 
that  the  Ladies  should  add  to  the  attraction  of  their  dress  (the  Ladies' 
cockade  should  be  a  white  rose,)  this  symbol  of  their  attachment  to  the 
government,  which  cherishes  and  protects  them  —  either  on  their 
breasts  or  in  their  bonnets.  The  measure  is  innocent ;  but  the  effect 
will  be  highly  important.  It  will  add  cement  to  the  Union,  which  so 
generally  and  so  happily  exists.  Every  cockade  will  be  another  edition 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  the  demonstration  of  it,  by  this 
VOL.  II.  7 


74  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

national  emblem  now,  will  be  as  highly  laudable  as  the  display  of  the 
immortal  instrument  of  1776  was  then:  Those  who  signed  the  Address 
to  the  President  are  pledged  to  display  this  evidence  of  it  to  the  world  — 
and  they  may  be  assured,  that  the  influence  of  their  example  in  this 
measure  will  be  productive  of  as  great  good,  as  the  influence  of  their 
names  was  on  the  paper.  All  those,  who  have  not  had  opportunity  to 
sign  the  address,  and  who  feel  themselves  Independent  Americans, 
cannot  hesitate  to  show  by  some  outward  mark,  that  they  love  their 
country  better  than  any  other  in  the  world ;  this  mark  ought  to  be  the 
black  cockade.  The  Ladies,  we  understand,  are  universally  in  favor  of 
the  measure ;  and  if  they  lead,  who  will  not  follow  ? 

To  those  who  object,  (if  there  be  any,)  on  account  of  singularity  or 
novelty,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say,  that  the  custom  is  sanctioned  by 
antiquity,  and  has  met  the  approbation  of  the  great,  the  wise,  and  the 
good,  in  all  ages. 

The  next  Centinel  says,  —  "  The  Jacobins  have  the 
impudence  to  say,  that  the  people  of  Boston  were 
really  divided,  and  they  give  as  a  proof,  that  not  more 
than  half  of  them  wear  the  American  Cockade.  This 
being  the  case,  let  every  Bostonian,  attached  to  the 
constitution  and  government  of  the  United  States,  im 
mediately  mount  the  COCKADE,  and  swear  that  he 
will  not  relinquish  it,  until  the  infamous  projects  of  the 
external  and  internal  enemies  of  our  country  shall  be 
destroyed."  A  few  days  afterward,  the  editor  again 
touches  on  his  favorite  project,  thus  :  —  "  The  Cockade 
is  generally  worn  by  every  class  of  citizens  in  almost 
every  town  in  the  United  States.  It  is  considered  as  a 
token  of  patriotism  and  union.  It  will  enliven  our  com 
mencement  at  Cambridge  this  day.  It  will  receive  the 
smiles  and  approbation  of  the  Fair  Daughters  of  Co 
lumbia  ;  and  will  convince  the  Gallic  spies,  now  in  our 
country,  that  we  are  not  a  divided  people." 

It  was  in  this  summer  that  the  President  appointed 
Washington  to  the  office  of  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  75 

army,  which  Congress  had  authorized  to  be  raised,  in 
consequence  of  the  troubles  with  France.  Russell  must 
have  ransacked  the  English  vocabulary  to  find  all  the 
superlatives,  which  he  used  in  praise  of  Washington's 
patriotism,  as  manifested  in  accepting  the  appointment. 
He  published  three  thousand  copies  of  the  letter  of 
acceptance,  and  distributed  them  in  various  parts  of  the 
commonwealth.  A  writer  in  the  Salem  Gazette  com 
plimented  him  on  this  "  act  of  patriotism  and  liberality," 
to  which  Russell  replied,  —  "  The  editor  of  the  Centi- 
nel  has  but  a  small  claim  to  the  act  of  patriotism 
acknowledged  in  this  article.  He  has  on  former  occa 
sions  made  sacrifices  ;  but  a  number  of  federal  patriotic 
gentlemen  have  superseded  him.  They  have,  by  liberal 
subscriptions,  voluntarily  defrayed  the  expense  of  circu 
lating  several  thousand  pamphlets  in  the  interior,  where 
the  people  are  less  in  the  habit  of  reading  newspapers. 
These  gentlemen  directed  the  publication  of  General 
Washington's  immortal  letter,  in  hand-bills  ;  above  three 
thousand  of  which  have  been  sent  into  the  back  towns, 
the  eastern  and  southern  shores  ;  and  we  are  happy  in 
hearing  that  they  have  added  fuel  to  the  patriotic  fire  of 
the  times,  and  that  numbers  of  the  reverend  clergy, 
never  weary  in  well-doing,  have  read  them  to  their  con 
gregations  after  divine  service.  It  is  second  only  to 
inspiration." 

On  his  way  from  the  seat  of  government  to  his  resi 
dence  in  Massachusetts,  during  this  year,  President 
Adams  was,  in  all  the  principal  towns,  greeted  with 
tokens  of  love  and  approbation.  Addresses,  fraught 
with  patriotic  feeling  and  federal  principles,  and  his  re 
plies  to  them,  make  an  imposing  display  in  the  Centinel, 


76  COLUMBIAN     CENTINEL. 

and  are  frequently  accompanied  with  an  editorial  note. 
Russell  said,  in  one  of  his  congratulant  paragraphs,  — 
"  President  Adams  may  be  denominated  the  American 
Herschel.  He  certainly  discovered  the  baleful  comet  of 
French  perfidy  many  months  before  his  fellow-citizens, 
who  now  see  it  plainly." 

The  words  "  Massachusetts  Federalist "  had  been 
recently  added  to  the  title  of  the  Centinel.  The  politi 
cal  communications  increased  in  number,  and,  if  possi 
ble,  were  more  severe  on  the  opponents  of  the  Federal 
Administration.  It  was  about  this  time  also,  that  the 
Editor  began  to  compile  "  A  Brief  Review  of  the  Polit 
ical  State  of  the  World,"  a  task  of  considerable  labor, 
which  was  continued  annually  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  which  usually  occupied  two  or  three  columns  in 
each  of  several  successive  papers,  near  the  close  of  each 
year.  As  a  vehicle  of  useful  and  accurate  intelligence, 
the  Centinel  secured  to  itself  a  reputation  superior  to 
that  of  any  other  American  newspaper.  Russell  had  a 
peculiar  mode  of  condensing  and  arranging  the  contents 
of  foreign  journals,  and  presenting,  in  the  most  readable 
shape,  all  the  prominent  incidents  of  the  war,  that  then 
agitated  almost  the  whole  of  Europe.  The  files  of  the 
Centinel,  from  1790  to  1815  contain  the  materials  for  a 
better  history  of  the  French  Revolution  and  of  the  wars, 
which  grew  out  of  the  attempt  of  other  European  powers 
to  re-establish  legitimacy  in  France,  than  any  that  I  have 
had  the  privilege  of  reading.  The  movements  and 
operations  of  the  contending  armies  are  described  with  a 
vividness,  that  brings  the  reader  directly  to  the  scene  of 
operation.  We  see  the  roads,  in  which  the  armies 
marched  from  city  to  city ;  the  bridges  they  passed,  and 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  77 

then  destroyed  ;  and  the  localities  where  they  en 
camped.  Russell  had  a  military  taste,  and  it  was  as 
natural  for  him  to  take  his  map  and  follow  the  track  of 
an  army,  and  to  record  all  the  minute  incidents  connected 
with  it,  as  it  was  to  breathe.  And  he  always  kept  his 
account  posted  up  to  the  latest  moment,  so  that  he  was 
always  ready  for  a  new  arrival  of  intelligence,  and  would, 
not  unfrequently,  venture  upon  predictions  of  events, 
which  the  next  arrival  would  often  announce  as  histor 
ical  facts. 

/Through  the  jvhpjej^  this  period,  and  for  some  years 
afterward,  the  Centinel  was  an  indispensable  source  of 
news  for  the  country  printers,  —  every  one  of  whom  re 
lied  upon  it  for  matter  to  fill  up  the  news  department  of 
his  paper.  V  Subscribers  in  the  country  also  increased 
beyond  all  precedent.  It  was  every  where  known  and 
every  where  read  ;  and,  if  industry  in  collecting  and 
fidelity  in  republishing  information,  that  was  important  to 
be  known,  are  worthy  of  credit,  never  was  popularity 
more  honestly  earned. 

In  January  and  February,  1799,  the  editor  of  the 
Centinel  made  a  severe  attack  on  John  Bacon,  a  sena 
tor  from  Berkshire,  who  voted  against  the  Report  of  the 
legislative  committee  on  the  Virginia  and  Kentucky 
Resolutions  :  — "  The  Hon.  Mr.  Bacon  (he  said)  the 
solitary  Nay  of  our  Senate,  the  advocate  of  Alien  Legis 
lators,  the  Gallatins  of  Geneva  and  the  Lyons  of  Hiber- 
nia,  was  once  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel.  How  well  he 
minded  his  Bible,  which,  before  the  French  Revolution, 
was  the  rule  and  guide  of  his  faith,  will  be  seen  by  com 
paring  his  speeches  with  the  injunction  in  Deuteron 
omy  :  — '  One  from  among  thy  brethren  shalt  thou  set 
7* 


78  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

over  thee ;  thou  mayest  not  set  a  STRANGER  over  thee 
which  is  not  thy  brother.'  It  was  certainly  in  character 
for  the  privy  counselor  of  Daniel  Shays  and  Luke  Day 
to  vote  against  Sedition  Acts."  This  was  followed  by 
other  paragraphs,  alluding  to  the  private  history  of 
Bacon,  in  terms  adapted  to  provoke  irritating  and  bitter 
retorts.  Bacon  was  defended  in  the  Chronicle,  and, 
probably,  many  of  the  paragraphs  in  that  paper  were 
written  or  dictated  by  him.  But  Russell  was  not  dis 
posed  to  let  off  the  object  of  his  political  vengeance, 
without  some  severer  blow  than  an  off-hand  para 
graph  ;  and,  accordingly,  he  published,  in  the  Centinel 
of  February  27,  the  following  letter,  —  rather  more 
elaborate  and  carefully  constructed  than  his  ordinary 
writings :  — 

The  Hon   JOHN  BACON,  Esq. 
SIR, 

In  discharging  my  Editorial  duty,  I  have  been  necessitated  to  notice 
your  public  conduct  in  life,  and  in  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts  ;  and  to 
animadvert  on  your  Speech,  printed  in  the  papers.  Your  political  tur 
pitude  in  advocating  the  infallibility  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky  disorgan- 
izers  ;  and  your  arrogance  in  attaching  unworthy  motives  to  your  com 
peers  of  the  Senate,  have  rendered  you  a  proper  mark  for  censure  or 
ridicule.  You  have  not  escaped  censure  ;  and  you  have  replied  to  the 
observations  made  on  you.  For  my  part,  I  am  not  displeased  that  the 
cursory  notice  taken  of  you  in  the  CENTINEL,  has  disturbed  the  Stoi 
cism  which  is  your  boast,  and  which,  in  fact,  is  the  most  permanent  ingre 
dient  in  your  composition ;  and  the  public  really  considers  your  lengthy 
exculpatory  address  and  certificates  in  the  last  Chronicle,  as  the  contor 
tions  of  a  sorely  wounded  adder. 

In  a  late  CENTINEL  you  were  implicated  of  inconsistency  (or  in  other 
words  of  Clerical  Jacobinism)  when  a  Preacher  of  the  Gospel  in  this 
town;  —  of  Toryism  in  the  "times  which  tried  men's  souls,"  and  of 
disaffection  to  the  Independence  and  real  prosperity  of  your  country,  at 
the  present  moment. 

Would  time  permit,  I  could  easily  bring  a  cloud  of  evidence  in  sup 
port  of  every  one  of  these  imputations.  Perhaps  it  is  unnecessary. 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  79 

The  certificate  of  the  Old  South  Church,  of  1781,  I  consider  as  amply 
sufficient  of  itself  to  satisfy  every  one  of  the  "  inconsistency "  of  your 
doctrines  and  creeds  on  theological  subjects.  The  liberality  of  the 
worshipers  at  that  Church,  would  ever  induce  them  to  exercise  to 
wards  you  the  offices  of  Christian  Charity  and  brotherly  love ;  but  I 
know  from  general  remark,  that  such  was  the  "  inconsistency  "  of  these 
doctrines  arising  from  the  singular  (not  to  say  perverse)  bias  of  your 
nature,  that  when  the  routine  of  duty  called  you  to  the  desk,  and  your 
real  sentiments  were  known,  you  had  the  mortification  of  holding  forth 
to  comparatively  empty  peivs  and  solitary  galleries.  Your  love  for  dab 
bling  in  troubled  waters  impelled  you  to  seek  a  public  disputation  in  Mr. 
Croswelfs  meeting-house,  with  Mr.  MURRAY  :  and  there  are  many  living 
evidences  of  the  miserable  predicament  your  "  inconsistencies "  then 
placed  you  in.  You  plumply  denied  the  existence  in  the  Bible  of  a 
text  quoted  by  Mr.  MURRAY  ;  and  you  gave  ample  evidence  of  your 
chagrin,  when  he  immediately  referred  you  to  the  passage  in  the  sacred 
volume  then  on  the  desk.  —  You  left  the  field  of  controversy ;  —  and 
your  partizans,  mortified  at  the  imbecility  of  their  champion,  assailed 
the  victorious  disputant  with  something  more  like  ARGUMENT  than  any 
thing  advanced  by  you  —  brick-bats  and  rotten  eggs :  —  but  to  show  the 
contempt  in  which  Mr.  M.  held  your  opposition,  when  one  of  those 
arguments  struck  the  pulpit  just  below,  he  pleasantly  said,  "  Here  we  have 
it,  brethren,  Bacon  and  eggs" 

To  the  implication  of  Toryism  in  1775,  you  say  "  there  are  too  many 
living  witnesses  of  your  character  and  conduct  in  this  respect,  both  in  and 
out  of  the  Legislature  to  leave  the  least  occasion  for  any  reply."  This  is  a 
true  Baconian  flourish  to  get  under  an  allegation.  You  certainly  are  not 
capable  of  a  neutral  character;  I  could,  therefore,  have  wished  you  had 
adduced  some  evidence  of  your  whiggism  at  that  time  ;  —  For  my  part,  I 
have  turned  over  the  public  records  of  those  days,  when  the  Pulpits 
were  the  Citadels  of  Patriotism  as  well  as  Piety  —  and  the  Clergy  the 
equal  champions  of  both  ;  —  for  evidence  of  your  attachment  to  any 
other  than  the  then  arbitrary  government  of  Great-Britain ;  and  amidst 
the  groves  of  laurels  which  encircled  the  brows  of  the  Clerical  Heroes  of 
those  trying  times,  I  have  seen  no  chaplet  whereof  the  Rev.  Mr. 
BACON  has  the  least  claim  to  the  smallest  sprig.  You  mention  the  Legis 
lature.  —  It  is  perhaps  fortunate  for  you,  that  during  the  debates  on  the 
Virginia  Resolutions,  the  galleries  were  not  open ;  —  as,  thereby  I  have 
been  deprived  of  the  knowledge  of  some  hints  of  Toryism,  which  I 
have  been  told,  were  pretty  plainly  insinuated  against  you.  How  well 
you  succeeded  in  getting  rid  of  them  you  best  know. 

That  at  the  present  time,  you  are  opposed  to  the  best  interests  of 


80  COLUMBIAN     CENTINEL. 

your  country ;  —  that  you  have  betrayed  the  trust  reposed  in  you  by 
your  constituents  ;  and  that  you  appear  to  be  as  ill  qualified  to  exercise 
the  office  of  a  Legislator  as  a  Clergyman ;  —  and  to  have  as  little  real 
knowledge  of  the  Constitution  of  your  country,  as  you  appear  to  have 
had  of  the  Bible,  in  your  controversy  with  Mr.  MURRAY  ;  —  I  could  ad 
duce  your  late  vote  in  the  Senate  opposed  to  the  entire  body  of  the 
Senators  of  Massachusetts ,  and  to  117  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
without  including  those  of  the  minority  who  declared  their  detestation 
of  principles  you  so  unblushingly  advocated  ;  —  Could  bring  forward 
the  recent  election  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  SEDGWICK  to  a  seat  in  Congress ; 
and  need  only  to  contrast  the  incongruities  and  follies  of  your  Speech 

with  the  Constitution  and  Laws  of  my  country. But,  Sir,  attention 

to  other  duties  will  not  at  present  permit  me.  At  another  time,  I  may 
find  leisure,  if  the  subject  should  acquire  adequate  importance  —  to  pay 
some  attention  to  these  particulars ;  to  reply  to  some  of  your  statements 
of  the  conversation  between  us ;  but  never  to  notice  your  innuendoes  or 
epithets.  As  long  as  your  political  conduct  shall  partake  of  its  present 
qualities,  you  may  depend,  Sir,  of  always  finding  a  surgeon  who  will 
probe  your  wounds  to  the  quick,  in 

Feb.  26,  1799.  THE  EDITOR  or  THE  CENTINEL. 

Another  specimen  of  Russell's  style  in  his  political 
controversies  is  the  following, — certainly  not  the  mild 
est,  nor  even  the  most  acrimonious,  that  might  be  se 
lected  :  — 

THE  FRETFUL  PORCUPINE 

Is  sore  at  the  necessary  punishment  the  CENTINEL  has  inflicted  on 
him  for  his  outrageous  abuse  of  THE  PRESIDENT  of  the  United  States. 
It  was  the  first  time  we  recollect  to  have  noticed  the  " Blackguard"  — 
his  private  personalities  we  ever  deemed  beneath  attention;  but  we 
could  not  have  justified  it  to  our  consciences,  in  passing  by  the  virulent 
invectives  of  this  incendiary  against  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the 
Union.  Knowing  the  ground  he  had  lost  by  his  conduct,  and  boiling 
over  with  diabolical  malice  towards  all  who  have  had  any  hand  in  op 
posing  his  audacity,  and  chastising  his  insolence,  he  quits  the  original 
subject,  and  indulges  his  native  blackguardism  in  distorting  new  ones  ; 
and  has  been  reduced  to  the  pitiable  necessity  of  quibbling  on  an  intro 
duction  of  ours  to  a  French  State  Paper.  We  detest  the  conduct  of 
France  as  much  as  this  alien  can  pretend  to ;  and  we  were  active  vindi 
cators  of  the  cause  of  Federalism,  when  this  intruder  was  uttering 
curses  and  imprecations  against  every  thing  American.  Yet  even  this 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  81 

spurious  exotic  has  the  effrontery  to  call  himself  a  Federalist  at  the 
same  time  he  superciliously  boasts  himself  a  subject  of  the  British 
monarchy. 

Success  has  made  this  quill-driving  animal  vain  and  conceited.  He  is 
so  swoln  by  it  as  to  become  totally  blind  to  his  own  situation  :  —  Nay, 
he  is  ignorant,  in  common  with  other  brutes,  of  his  creation  and  cause 
of  existence.  COBBETT  was  never  encouraged  and  supported  by  the 
Federalists  as  a  solid,  judicious  writer  in  their  cause ;  but  was  kept 
merely  to  hunt  Jacobinic  foxes,  skunks,  and  serpents.  The  Federalists 
found  the  Jacobins  had  the  Aurora,  Argus,  and  Chronicle,  through  which 
they  ejected  their  mud,  filth,  and  venom,  and  attacked  and  blackened 
the  best  characters  the  world  ever  boasted ;  and  they  perceived  that 
these  vermin  were  not  to  be  operated  on  by  reason  or  decency.  It  was 
therefore  thought  necessary  that  the  opposite  party  should  keep,  and 
feed  a  suitable  beast  to  hunt  down  these  skunks  and.  foxes;  and  "  the  fret 
ful  Porcupine"  was  selected  for  this  business.  This  imported,  or  trans 
ported  beast  has  been  kept  as  gentlemen  keep  a  fierce  bull  Dog,  to 
guard  his  house  and  property  against  thieves,  Jacobins  and  French 
men,  and  as  such  he  has  been  a  good  and  faithful  dog,  and  has  been 
fed  and  caressed  accordingly.  It  is  true  he  has  sometimes,  as  most 
dogs  will,  growled  at  his  masters,  and  as  "  STERNE'S  puppy  "  was  wont 
to  do,  has  darted  at  the  venerable  PRIESTLEY  ;  but  as  he  has  evinced  an 
inveterate  antipathy  to  all  Frenchmen,  he  has  been  excused.  However, 
as  he  grows  more  and  more  fretful  for  want  of  food,  (as  may  be  seen  by 
his  modest,  polite,  decent,  civil,  gentlemanlike  dunning,  or  rather  bullying 
advertisement  to  his  feeders)  some  think  we  should  shorten  his  chain;  or 
send  him  home  again  to  England,  to  starve,  or  feed  on  Jacobin  vermin 
there ;  or  else  transport  the  "  Hedge-Hog  "  to  Boston,  where  the  Board 
of  Health  would  soon  order  him  to  be  taken  by  the  tail,  and  thrown  into 
the  dock  at  low  tide,  as  a  common  nuisance. 

We  know  not  what  the  " Hedge-Hog "  means  by  "  Genet-feasting" 

This  was  followed  by  others  equally  gentle  and 
equally  rich  in  words  of  invective. 

An  event  now  occurred,  which  afforded  the  editor  of 
the  Centinel  an  opportunity  of  renewing  his  expressions 
of  admiration  for  the  character  of  Washington.  The 
publication,  which  gave  an  account  of  his  death,  was 
printed  with  a  broad,  black  border,  and  to  the  annuncia 
tion  was  added,  —  "  How  shall  we  express  our  grief  on 


82  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

this  distressing  event !  with  what  language  shall  we  give 
vent  to  the  full  feelings  of  our  heart !  It  is  true,  he  had 
reached  the  summit  of  human  honor,  and  was  ripe  for 
immortal  glory.  It  is  true,  he  had  retired,  in  a  degree, 
from  public  office  to  the  rural  walks  of  life.  It  is  true, 
the  government  of  our  country  has  devolved  on  wise 
and  faithful  men.  Yet  WASHINGTON  was  still  our  guard 
ian,  our  pride,  and  our  defence.  Amidst  the  threaten 
ing  storms  of  foreign  violence  —  amidst  the  more  dan 
gerous  convulsions  of  party  rage,  it  was  still  our  conso 
lation  that  WASHINGTON  lived.  His  reputation  was  a 
bulwark  and  a  shield,  under  whose  broad  and  protecting 
shade  America  reposed  with  unbounded  confidence.  He 
led  our  armies  amidst  the  perils  of  revolution  to  victory. 
His  virtues,  his  wisdom,  his  name  alone,  kept  the  jarring 
elements  of  our  confederation  from  bursting  asunder, 
hushed  to  peace  the  voice  of  discord,  and  consolidated 
these  States  under  one  firm  and  fair  fabric  of  government. 
For  these  purposes,  Heaven  kindly  lent  him  to  us  —  to 
make  us  a  nation  —  and  to  render  us  prosperous,  power 
ful,  and  happy.  Having  accomplished  his  high  errand, 
he  is  now  recalled  and  we  are  overwhelmed  with  grief." 

The  death  of  Washington  produced  a  universal  ex 
pression  of  regret,  and  political  writers  seemed  to  forget 
their  animosities,  while  they  were  paying  funeral  honors 
to  the  greatest  man  of  the  age ;  but  when  the  first  week 
or  two  of  mourning  was  over,  they  returned  to  the  war 
with  renewed  vigor.  The  Centinel  was  liberal  and  sin 
cere  in  its  lamentations,  and  for  several  weeks  kept  a 
registration  of  the  funeral  ceremonies  that  were  observed 
throughout  the  nation. 

The  approach  of  an  election  for  governor  of  Massa- 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  «3 

chusetts,  in  the  spring  of  J800,  awakened  all  the  slum 
bering  embers  of  party  strife.  The  Federalists  succeeded 
in  electing  their  candidate.  Defeat  excited  the  other 
party  to  unwarrantable  crimination,  and  that  was,  of 
course,  met  with  federal  recrimination,  no  less  fierce  and 
unpolished.  An  election  of  a  President  of  the  United 
States  was  also  pending,  and  the  contest  between  the 
friends  of  Mr.  Adams  and  Mr.  Jefferson  respectively, 
was  conducted  with  barbarous  ferocity.  Many  of  the 
charges  against  either  candidate  were  made  in  language 
that  could  hardly  be  tolerated,  even  if  quoted  as  a  matter 
of  mere  curiosity.  Epithets  of  the  coarsest  character 
were  exchanged,  without  care  and  without  remorse. 
The  editor  of  the  Centinel  was  not  of  a  temper  to  take 
a  blow  with  meekness,  and  if  force  was  not  added  to  the 
returning  stroke,  his  disposition  was  not  in  fault.  The 
republican  party  of  the  nation  succeeded  in  the  election, 
but  Massachusetts  gave  her  vote  for  Adams.  After  it 
became  known  that  Mr.  Jefferson  or  Mr.  Burr  was  to  be 
the  President  from  the  fourth  of  March,  1801,  and  that 
the  choice  must  be  made  by  the  House  of  Representa 
tives,  the  Centinel  advocated  the  election  of  the  latter, 
—  in  which  it  was  sustained  by  some  able  writers. 

The  following  Parody  appeared  in  the  Centinel  in 
February,  1801.  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  was  the  off 
spring  of  Russell's  own  prolific  imagination,  which  was 
always  on  the  look-out,  or  busy  in  contriving  something, 
wherewith  to  annoy  his  political  adversaries :  — 
THE  JACOBIN  UNIVERSAL  PRAYER. 

Parent  of  ill !  in  every  State, 
In  every  Club  adored  — 

By  small,  by  wicked,  and  by  great, 
Of  mischief  sovereign  lord,  — 


84  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

Thou  great  curst  cause  !  but  yet  obeyed, 

Who  all  my  thoughts  confined, 
To  follow  Mischief's  wayward  trade, 

To  Virtue's  precepts  blind,  — 
Yet  taught  me,  in  this  dark  estate, 

To  choose  the  wrong  from  right, 
And  binding  Nature  fast  in  Fate, 

Kept  Virtue  out  of  sight ;  — 
What  Conscience  dictates  to  be  done, 

Or  warns  me  not  to  do, 
That  teach  me  more  than  Heaven  to  shun, 

This  more  than  Hell  pursue. 
What  lessons  thy  free  bounty  gives 

Let  me  not  cast  away, 
For  thou  art  paid  when  man  deceives  — 

To  cheat  is  to  obey. 
Yet  not  to  this  contracted  place 

Thy  precepts  let  me  bound, 
But  let  me  pillage  all  our  race, 

And  mischief  deal  around. 
Let  then  this  weak,  unknowing  hand 

Be  taught  thy  bolt  to  throw, 
And  deal  damnation  round  the  land 

On  each  I  think  my  foe. 
If  I  am  wrong,  O  teach  my  heart 

Still  in  the  wrong  to  stay ; 
If  I  am  right,  thy  grace  impart 

To  lead  my  steps  astray. 
Bless  me  alike  with  foolish  pride, 

And  impious  discontent, 
At  aught  Heaven's  bounty  has  denied, 

Or  aught  its  goodness  lent. 
Teach  me  to  laugh  at  others'  wo  ; 

To  tell  the  faults  I  see ; 
To  others  hatred  let  me  show, 

They  friendship  show  to  me. 
Base  though  I  am,  not  wholly  so  5 

Since  governed  by  thy  will, 
O  lead  me  whereso'er  I  go, 

And  be  my  Mentor  still. 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  85 

This  day  be  noise  and  strife  my  lot, 

Be  others'  wealth  my  own,  — 
Thou  knowest  if  best  bestowed  or  not, 

And  let  thy  will  be  done. 
To  thee,  whose  temple  is  each  space 

That 's  bad  beneath  the  skies  — 
One  chorus  let  us  Jacos  raise. 

One  common  ruin  rise. 

The  fourth  of  March  arrived,  and  on  that  day  the 
Centinel  appeared  with  the  following 

Monumental  Inscription. 

"  TJiat  life  is  long  which  answers  Life's  great  end" 


YE  STEED  AY    EXPIRED, 

Deeply  regretted  by  MILLIONS  of  grateful  Americans, 
And  by  all  GOOD  MEN, 

The   FEDERAL  ADMINISTRATION 

Of  the 
GOVERNMENT  of  the  United  States: 

Animated  by 

A  WASHINGTON,  an  ADAMS;  — a  HAMILTON,  KNOX, 

PICKERING,  WOLCOTT,  M'HENRY,  MARSHALL, 

STODDERT  and  DEXTER. 

JEt.  12  years. 

Its  death  was  occasioned  by  the 

Secret  Arts  and  Open  Violence, 

Of  Foreign    and    Domestic    Demagogues: 

Notwithstanding  its  whole  Life 
Was  devoted  to  the  Performance  of  every  Duty 

to  promote 
The  UNION,    CREDIT,    PEACE,   PROSPERITY, 

HONOR,  and 
FELICITY  OF  ITS  COUNTRY. 


At  its  birth  it  found 

The  Union  of  the  States  dissolving  like  a  Rope  of  snow ; 
8 


86  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

It  hath  left    it 
Stronger  than  the  Threefold  cord. 

It  found  the  United  States 
Bankrupts  in  Estate  and  Reputation; 

It  hath  left  them 

Unbounded  in  Credit ;  and  respected  throughout  the  "World. 
It  found  the  Treasuries  of  the  United  States  and 

Individual  States  empty ; 
It  hath  left  them  full   and  overflowing. 

It  found 
All  the  Evidences  of  Public  Debts  worthless  as  rags ; 

It  hath  left  them 
More  valuable  than  Gold  and  Silver. 


It  found 
The  United   States  at  war  with  the 

Indian  Nations;  — 
It  hath  concluded  Peace  with  them  all. 

It  found 
The  Aboriginals  of  the  soil  inveterate 

enemies  of  the  whites ; 

It  hath  exercised  towards  them  justice  and  generosity, 
And  hath  left  them  fast  friends. 

It  found 
Great-Britain  in  possession  of  all 

the  Frontier  Posts  ; 

It  hath  demanded  their  surrender,  and 

it  leaves  them  in  the  possession 

of  the  United  States. 

It  found 
The  American  sea-coast  utterly  defenseless; 

It  hath  left  it  fortified. 

It  found  our  Arsenals  empty ;  and  Magazines  decaying ; 
It  hath  left  them  full  of  ammunition 

and  warlike  Implements ; 

It    found    our    country    dependent    on    Foreign    Nations 
for  engines  of  defense  ; 

It  hath  left 
Manufactories  of  Cannon  and  Musquets  in  full  work. 

It  found 
The  American  Nation  at  War  with 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  87 

Algiers,  Tunis,  and  Tripoli; 

It  hath 
Made    Peace    with    them    all. 

It  found 

American  Freemen  in   Turkish  slavery,  where 
they  had  languished  in  chains  for  years  : 

It  hath 
Ransomed  them,  and  set  them  free. 

It  found  the  war-worn,  invalid  Soldier  starving  from  want; 
Or,  like  BELISARIUS,  begging  his  refuse  meat  from  door  to  door; 

It  hath  left 
Ample  provision  for  the  regular  payment  of  his  pension. 


It  found 

The  Commerce  of  our  country  confined 
almost  to  Coasting  Craft; 

It  hath  left  it 

Whitening  every   sea  with  its   canvas,   and 
cheering  every  clime  with  its  stars. 


It  found  our 

Mechanics  and   Manufacturers  idle   in 
the  streets  for  want  of  employ ; 

It  hath  left  them 
Full  of  business,  prosperous,  contented  and  happy. 

It  found 

The  Yeomanry  of  the  country   oppressed   with   unequal 

taxes;  —  their    farms,    houses    and    barns 

decaying ;  their  cattle  selling  at  the 

sign-posts  ;  and  they  driven  to 

desperation  and  Rebellion ; 

It  hath  left 

Their  coffers  in  cash  ;  their  houses  in  repair  ;  their 

barns  full ;  their  farms  overstocked  ;  and  their 

produce  commanding  ready  money, 

and  a  high  price. 

In  short  — 
It  found  them  poor,  indigent  Malcontents ; 

It  hath  left  them 
Wealthy  Friends  to  Order  and  Good  Government. 


88  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

It  found 
The  United  States  deeply  in  debt  to 

France  and  Holland  ; 
It  hath  paid  ALL  the  demands  of  the  former,   and 

the  principal  part  of  the  latter. 
It  found  the    Country  in  a  ruinous 

Alliance  with  France; 

It  hath  honorably  dissolved  the  connexion, 
and  set  us  free. 

It  found 

The  United  States  without  a  swivel 
on  float  for  their  defense  ; 

It  hath  left 

A  NAVY  —  composed  of  Thirty-four  ships  of  war ; 

mounting   918   guns  ;    and  manned 

by  7350  gallant  tars. 


It  found 
The  EXPORTS  of  our  country,  a  mere  song,  in  value  : 

It  hath  left  them  worth 
Above  SEVENTY  MILLIONS  of  Dollars  per  annum. 

In  one  word, 

It  found  AMERICA  disunited,  poor,  insolvent, 
weak,  discontented,  and  wretched. 

It  hath  left  HER 
United,   wealthy,    respectable,    strong, 

happy  and  prosperous. 
Let  the  faithful  Historian,  in  after  times  say  these  things 

of  its  Successor,  if  it  can. 
And  yet  —  notwithstanding  all  these  services  and 

blessings,  there  are  found 

Many,  very  many,  weak,  degenerate  Sons, 

who,  lost  to  virtue,  to  gratitude, 

and  patriotism, 

Openly  exult,  that  this  Administration 
is  no  more. 

And  that 

The  "Sun  of  Federalism  is  set  for  ever." 
"  Oh  sluime,  where  is  thy  blush  ?  " 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  89 

As  one   Tribute  of   Gratitude  in  these   Times, 

This  MONUMENT 
Of  the  Talents  and  Services  of  the  deceased ; 

is  raised  by 
March  4th,  1801.  2TJje  Centlrul. 

That  Russell,  and  the  Federalists  generally,  believed 
that  the  accession  of  Mr.  Jefferson  to  the  Presidency 
was  the  forerunner  of  great  national  calamity,  there  can 
be  no  doubt.  The  Monumental  Inscription  was  followed 
by  a  note,  saying,  —  "  With  this  day  begins  the  EIGH 
TEENTH  year  since  the  birth  of  the  Centinel  —  and,  at  no 
period,  during  that  time,  hath  it  enjoyed  a  greater  share 
of  patronage  and  assistance  than  it  now  enjoys.  We 
shall  demonstrate  our  gratitude  therefor,  by  the  faithful 
discharge  of  our  duty;  without  vaulting  or  tottering: 
Especially  now,  when  every  thing  dear  and  venerable  is 
exposed  to  be  undermined  or  battered  down.  As  a 
Centinel,  we  will  sound  the  alarm,  and  faithfully  make  re 
port  of  our  discoveries  of  the  disposition,  force,  and  move 
ments  of  our  country's  foes.  Further  we  need  not  say." 

During  the  whole  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  administration, 
the  Centinel  was  the  undeviating  opponent  of  every  one 
of  his  measures.  The  reduction  of  the  navy,  the  non- 
intercourse  scheme,  the  embargo,  and  the  gun-boat  sys 
tem, —  all,  —  met  the  decided  reprobation  of  Mr.  Rus 
sell  and  the  leading  Federalists.  The  embargo  law, 
which  was  unlimited  as  to  the  time  of  its  operation,  was 
disapproved  of  by  many  of  the  Republicans,  but  the 
policy  was  sustained  by  the  Chronicle  and  the  other 
papers  of  the  party,  and  this  led  to  further  and  more 
virulent  attacks  and  vituperable  accusations.  The 
arrival  of  the  law  in  Boston  was  announced  in  the  Cen- 


90  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

tinel  in  the  sportive  paragraph,  which  follows.     It  was 
afterwards  treated  in  a  less  gentle  manner :  — 

THE  GENERALS.  General  Blockade,  General  Resolution,  and  even 
General  War  have  not  made  more  noise  in  Europe,  than  has  been  re 
cently  made  here  by  General  Embargo,  who  arrived  last  evening  from 
Washington.  He  has  been  rather  tardy  in  his  movements;  some  of 
his  non-commissioned  suite  having  been  in  town  two  days,  and  his  prin 
cipal  Aid,  Major  Non-Importation  having  taken  up  winter  quarters 
here  some  weeks  before.  We  know  not  who  are  in  the  train  of  the 
General ;  but  it  is  expected  he  will  be  followed  by  his  other  Aids,  Major 
Poverty  and  Captain  Starvation.  Several  honest  folks  are  much  alarmed 
at  his  visit,  particularly  the  houses  of  Messrs.  Codfish  $-  Co.  of  Marble- 
head,  Commercial  Point,  Cape  Cod,  &c. ;  Messrs.  Prime  Beef,  Pork  $- 
Co.  a  respectable  establishment,  in  the  interior ;  and  Messrs.  Drawbacks, 
Mechanics,  Mariners  $•  Co.  of  this  and  other  commercial  towns.  The 
General  is  considered  as  a  very  unwelcome  guest ;  especially  as  it  has 
been  hinted  we  shall  not  probably  be  rid  of  him,  until  he  is  driven  away 
by  General  Peace. 

In  consequence,  it  was  said,  of  some  evasions  of  the 
embargo  law,  an  additional  act  was  passed,  authorizing 
the  absolute  detention  of  all  vessels  bound  coastwise,  if 
any  suspicion  existed  that  there  was  any  purpose  of 
evasion.  The  President  wrote  a  letter  to  the  governor 
of  Massachusetts,  empowering  him  to  grant  certificates 
in  favor  of  any  merchant,  in  whom  the  governor  had 
confidence,  to  transport  flour  from  one  port  in  the  United 
States  to  another,  in  order  that  the  inhabitants  might  not 
suffer  any  inconvenience  from  a  deficient  supply  of  bread. 
Russell  accompanied  the  publication  of  this  letter,  with 
the  following :  — 

UP  TO  THE  HOB  .  On  our  first  page  will  be  found  an  extraordinary 
missive  from  President  Jefferson  to  Governor  Sullivan,  appointing  him 
Dispenser  of  favors  and  Minister  of  Starvation  for  Massachusetts.  This 
bold  stroke  to  starve  a  people  into  democracy  has  been  received  by  them 
as  it  deserved;  and  is  universally  execrated  as  a  decree,  which  Bona 
parte  would  scarcely  dare  to  issue.  We  wish  the  hirelings,  who  defend 
this  new  stretch  of  power,  would  inform  the  public,  on  what  article  of 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  91 

the  Constitution,  or  Law  of  the  land,  power  can  be  given  for  such  pur 
poses.  It  seems  the  new  office  is  not  general  -among  the  governors. 
The  new  Grand  Dignitaries  of  the  Empire  are  only  the  Governors  of 
Orleans,  Georgia,  South- Carolina,  Massachusetts,  and  New-Hampshire. 

In  1811,  when  Mr.  Gerry  was  governor  of  the  com 
monwealth,  the  Legislature  made  a  new  division  of  the 
districts  for  the  election  of  representatives  to  Congress. 
Both  branches  had  then  a  democratic  majority.  For 
the  purpose  of  securing  a  democratic  representative,  an 
absurd  and  singular  arrangement  of  towns  in  the  county 
of  Essex  was  made  to  compose  a  district.  Russell  took 
a  map  of  the  county,  and  designated  by  a  particular 
coloring  the  towns  thus  selected.  He  then  hung  the 
map  on  the  wall  of  his  editorial  closet.  One  day,  Gil 
bert  Stuart,  the  celebrated  painter,  looked  at  the  map, 
and  said  the  towns,  which  Russell  had  thus  distinguished, 
formed  a  picture  resembling  some  monstrous  animal. 
He  took  a  pencil,  and,  with  a  few  touches,  added  what 
might  be  supposed  to  represent  claws.  "  There,"  said 
Stuart,  "  that  will  do  for  a  salamander."  Russell,  who 
was  busy  with  his  pen,  looked  up  at  the  hideous  figure, 
and  exclaimed,  "  Salamander !  call  it  Gerrymander." 
The  word  became  a  proverb,  and,  for  many  years,  was 
in*  popular  use  among  the  Federalists  as  a  term  of  re 
proach  to  the  democratic  Legislature,  which  had  distin 
guished  itself  by  this  act  of  political  turpitude.  An 
engraving  of  the  "  Gerrymander  "  was  made,  and  hawked 
about  the  State,  which  had  some  effect  in  annoying  the 
democratic  party. 

The  "  Berlin  and  Milan  Decrees "  of  the  French 
emperor,  and  the  retaliatory  "Orders  in  Council  "  of  the 
British  government,  had  seriously  injured  the  commerce 
of  the  United  States,  and  were  judged,  by  many,  as 


92  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

good  cause  for  war.  Russell,  as  the  organ  of  the  federal 
party,  made  apologies  for  the  latter,  —  considering  them 
as  justified  by  the  former,  and  he  was,  therefore, 
opposed  to  war  with  England  for  any  of  the  causes, 
which  then  existed,  though  the  impressment  of  seamen 
from  American  merchant  ships  was  a  crying  evil,  often 
practised  with  great  insolence  and  injustice.  War  was 
declared  in  June,  1812.  With  what  spirit  the  Declara 
tion  was  received,  may  be  seen  from  the  announcement 
in  the  Centinel :  — 

PREDICTIONS  VERIFIED.  The  awful  event  so  often  anticipated  by 
us  as  the  inevitable  effect  of  the  infatuated  policy  of  the  Rulers  of  the 
American  People  has  now  been  realized,  —  and  the  worst  of  measures 
has  emerged  from  its  secret  womb  in  the  worst  of  forms.  A  naked  and 
unqualified  WAR  is  declared  to  exist  between  England,  Ireland,  and 
their  dependencies,  and  the  President  is  authorized  to  use  the  whole 
land  and  naval  forces  of  the  United  States,  "  to  carry  the  same  into  effect? 
This  Declaration  of  War  is  accompanied  by  a  Presidential  Manifesto, 
both  of  which  are  given  in  this  day's  Centinel.  They  are  now  before 
the  American  People,  who  will  sit  in  judgement  upon  them.  We  say 
nothing  of  the  Law ;  but  we  call  upon  the  freemen  of  the  United  States 
to  read  the  Presidential  Manifesto  —  to  read  it  carefully — and,  as  they 
read,  to  commune  with  their  hearts  and  understandings  on  the  asser 
tions  and  conclusions  it  contains :  To  compare  them  with  those  solemn 
truths  and  sober  facts,  which  their  eyes  have  seen  and  their  ears  heard : 
To  inquire  of  the  Merchant,  the  Insurer,  the  Navigator,  touching  the 
truth  of  the  many  unqualified  assertions  in  the  Manifesto  respecting 
their  immediate  concerns :  To  do  all  this  truly,  fairly,  and  impartially : 
And  then,  in  the  presence  of  that  God  of  truth,  who  knoweth  the  heart, 
pronounce,  —  and  boldly  pronounce,  —  Whether  these  assertions  are 
Truths,  Falsehoods,  or  Prevarications: — Or,  whether,  if  true,  they 
warrant  the  naked  Declaration  of  War,  in  which  they  and  their  dearest 
interests  are  now  involved. 

In  1812,  the  Federalists  supported  Dewitt  Clinton  of 
New- York,  for  President,  in  opposition  to  Mr.  Madison. 
Obliged,  as  the  organ  of  his  party  to  follow  its  dictation, 
Russell  gave  the  nomination  his  support,  but  it  was  not 
cheerful  and  hearty.  It  was  a  measure  that  he  could 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  93 

never  relish,  and  he  really  took  but  little  interest  in  the 
election. 

The  progress  of  the  war,  though  marked  by  some 
brilliant  exploits  of  the  navy,  did  not  reconcile  its  oppo 
nents  to  its  continuance.  On  the  anniversary  of  the 
Declaration,  a  very  able  article  in  the  Centinel  exhibited 
the  loss  and  gain  in  a  manner  which  showed  that  the 
losses  on  our  part  greatly  overbalanced  the  gain.  This 
article  stands  as  editorial,  but  internal  evidence  proves 
that  it  was  not  written  by  the  editor.  It  is  much  too 
elaborate  and  philosophical  to  have  emanated  from  his 
pen.  The  same  paper  says  :  — 

MARK  WELL.  Every  hour  the  WAR  grows  more  vindictive  and 
sanguinary;  and  the  pretended  object,  for  which  it  was  waged,  more 
hard  to  be  obtained :  —  And  though  a  Pacific  Embassy  is  said  to  be  on 
its  voyage  to  Europe,  every  syllable  uttered  by  the  administration,  and 
every  act  of  its  officers,  appears  intended  to  augment  the  ferocity  of 
War.  and  to  put  peace  at  an  irrecoverable  distance.  People  of  America, 
think  on  these  solemn  truths. 

This  was  from  the  pen  of  Russell ;  and  there  can  be 
no  doubt  that  the  following  had  the  same  origin :  — 

OBJECT  or  THE  WAR.  The  attention  of  the  people  is  daily  and 
hourly  called  to  bloody  recitals  of  events  of  the  War,  the  losses  of 
property,  and  the  progress  of  loans  and  taxes  to  carry  it  on ;  and  they 
inquire,  What  is  the  object  of  all  this  ?  All  the  reply  that  can  be  made 
to  the  inquiry,  is, —  That  all  this  waste  of  blood,  property,  and  money,  is  to 
afford  encouragement  to  British,  Irish,  and  Jersey  runaway  sailors,  to  enter 
on  board  American  vessels,  and  then  to  be  PROTECTED,  while  they  are 
underworking  the  native  born  American  Seamen  and  Navigators,  and  thereby 
taking  the  bread  from  the  mouths  of  their  wives  and  children  !  This  is  the 
great  object  of  this  War  !  This  is  what  is  called  fighting  for  "  Sailors 
Rights  and  Free  Trade" 

Again,  in  a  few  weeks,  a  similar  objurgatory  paragraph 
says,  —  "  The  National  Legislature  terminated  its  extra 
session  of  ten  weeks,  on  the  second  instant.  This  ses- 


94  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

sion  was  especially  called  for  the  purpose  of  adopting 
measures  for  the  prosecution  of  an  unnecessary  and  un 
just  WAR ;  and,  by  reference  to  the  list  of  acts,  it  will 
readily  be  seen,  that  a  broad  foundation  for  the  further 
Poverty  and  Ruin  of  the  people  is  laid,  through  direct 
taxes  and  other  internal  taxes,  and  through  loans  and  other 
ways  and  means,  to  carry  on  this  wicked  war.  The 
House  has  been  as  subservient  as  even  Bonaparte  could 
wish ;  but  the  Senate  have,  in  several  instances,  acted 
that  independent  part,  which  might  have  been  calculated 
upon,  from  the  very  respectable  accession  of  superior 
talents  and  worth  to  that  branch  of  the  Legislature. 
From  a  careful  calculation  and  revision,  it  appears  that 
58,779,491  dollars  is  the  least  sum,  which  the  war  will 
cost  to  the  end  of  the  year  1813.  Let  the  good  people 
of  this  country  seriously  reflect  upon  this  subject." 

Neither  Russell,  nor  his  federal  friends,  had  any  con 
fidence  in  the  pacific  declarations  of  the  national  govern 
ment.  The  appointment  of  Mr.  Gallatin  as  one  of  the 
envoys  to  negotiate  a  peace  with  Great-Britain,  in  1813, 
was  viewed  with  indignation.  This  gentleman  had  been 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury  from  the  accession  of  Mr. 
Jefferson.  The  Senate  adopted  a  resolution,  declaring 
his  mission  as  envoy  incompatible  with  his  continuance 
at  the  head  of  the  Treasury  department.  In  reference 
to  this  occurrence,  the  Centinel  said  :  — 

We  take  no  particular  concern  in  the  nomination  of  a  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury  for  this  appointment.  It  was  within  the  discretion  of  the 
Executive ;  but  we  maintain  that  his  holding  both  offices  would  be  a 
reproach  to  the  American  character,  already  debased  by  permitting  him 
to  continue  in  one  of  them.  It  establishes  the  inference,  either  that  the 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  is  useless,  and  that  his  duties  at 
the  most  critical  period  may  be  performed  by  proxy ;  or  that  this  for 
eigner  is  the  only  man  in  the  nation  qualified  for  a  place,  which  must 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  95 

be  kept  vacant  until  his  return.  No  wonder  that  the  American  blood 
in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  was  quickened  in  the  veins  of  many 
who  have  generally  supported  the  administration.  We  rejoice  in  this 
salutary  hint  to  the  President,  and  trust  it  is  the  precursor  of  a  more 
important  earnest  of  their  determination  to  fulfill  the  objects  of  their 
creation,  by  acting  as  a  high  and  independent  branch  of  the  govern 
ment They  are  in  fact  at  issue,  on  many  points,  with  a 

back  stairs  junto  of  mad  men  from  the  interior,  speculators  in  Indian 
land,  and  dreamers  of  foreign  conquest,  which  forms  the  combatant  cab 
inet  at  Washington.  They  will  of  course  be  denounced.  The  court 
paper  hardly  preserves  a  yossamer  covering  over  the  chagrin  and  resent 
ment  of  the  palace.  But  we  know  the  nature  of  the  materials  which 
compose  the  minority  of  that  body ;  and  we  believe  there  is,  among  the 
majority,  high-minded  and  honorable  men,  who  will  revere  themselves. 

In  this  style  and  temper,  the  editorials  and  communi 
cations  in  the  Centinel  were  continued  throughout  the 
whole  period  of  the  War.  All  the  successes  of  the 
army  or  navy  were  related  in  the  language  of  exultation, 
and  in  a  tone  that  showed  that  the  record  was  made  by 
a  patriotic  spirit.  But  it  is  believed,  that  not  a  word  of 
apology  or  approbation  of  the  proceedings  of  the  gov 
ernment  ever  gained  admission  into  its  columns.  The 
treaty  of  peace,  signed  in  December,  1814,  was  hailed 
with  the  most  joyous  words  of  welcome  ;  but  no  super 
fluous  gratitude  was  thrown  away  upon  the  administra 
tion  for  its  agency  in  producing  it. 

It  was  not  long  after  the  close  of  the  war,  that  the 
federal  party  ceased  to  exist,  as  a  party.  The  organiza 
tion  was  kept  up  until  the  election  of  Mr.  Munroe  as 
President,  but  symptoms  of  dissolution  had,  for  some 
time  been  apparent.  In  the  summer  of  1817,  the  Presi 
dent  made  a  visit  to  New-England.  His  movements 
were  every  where  hailed  with  expressions  of  satisfaction. 
His  arrival  in  Massachusetts  was  signalized  by  flattering 
displays  of  loyalty,  and  by  none  more  than  those,  who 


96  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

had  been  the  violent  opposers  of  Mr.  Madison,  and  the 
rudest  in  their  denunciations  of  Mr.  Munroe  as  a  mem 
ber  of  Mr.  Madison's  administration,  and  especially  in 
his  capacity  of  Lieutenant-General  of  the  United  States 
army,  — an  office,  which  he  held  while  he  was  also  at  the 
head  of  the  Department  of  State.  He  was  certainly  treated 
with  the  most  flattering  attention  during  his  stay  in  Boston, 
and  by  no  one  in  a  more  distinguished  manner  than  by 
Benjamin  Russell.  Let  it  not  be  understood,  however,  that 
Russell  is  here  charged  with  exercising  more  servility  than 
others.  Many  of  the  leading  Federalists  were  equally 
forward  in  tendering  to  the  President  all  the  hospitality 
that  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  nation  could  demand  or 
expect ;  and  seemed  resolved  to  take  from  the  Republi 
cans,  or  Democrats,  all  the  credit  of  the  civilities,  which 
he  received.  There  seemed,  however,  to  exist  a  general 
desire  that  no  party  asperities  should  be  manifested  on 
the  occasion ;  and  the  only  indication  of  it,  which  ap 
peared,  was  an  Address,  presented  to  the  President, 
signed  by  seven  of  the  leading  Republicans,  as  a  com 
mittee  appointed  for  that  purpose,  by  the  republican 
members  of  the  Legislature,  which  had  then  recently 
adjourned. 

This  union  of  old  political  enemies  to  honor  the  chief 
magistrate  of  the  Union,  was  called,  by  the  editor  of 
the  Centinel,  the  "Era  of  Good  Feelings,"  —  a  phrase, 
which  passed  into  a  by-word,  and  was  frequently  quoted 
as  a  word  of  reproach,  by  those  who  clung  to  the  fed 
eral  organization.  Some  of  the  republican  papers,  which 
had  been  devoted  to  the  Madisonian  policy,  and  had 
supported  the  election  of  Mr.  Munroe  to  the  presidency, 
were  a  little  provoked  at  the  conduct  of  the  Federalists, 


ADAMS    AND    HUDSON.  97 

in  bestowing  so  many  attentions  on  him  during  his  tour, 
and  Russell  came  in  for  a  full  share  of  their  sarcasm. 
One  of  them  said,  — 

The  President  has  probably  by  this  time  arrived  at  Niagara,  from 
whence  he  is  to  proceed  to  Detroit,  where  we  presume  he  will  be  waited 
upon  by  those  celebrated  Chiefs,  \Valk-in-the-  Water,  Split-Log,  One- 
who-puts-his-foot-in-it,  Big-Elk,  and  Thunder- Storm,  with  an  address 
forwarded  to  them  from  Boston.  Whether  there  is  to  be  a  grand  pap- 
poose  review  we  have  not  learned. 

In  a  notice  of  this  "  exhibition  of  wit,"  the  writer  of 
which  Russell  thought  was  "  a  sour-cider  carper,"  he 
said,  —  "  If  it  has  had  no  other  effect  than  the  mere  elicit- 
ation  of  these  scintillations,  it  were  worth  all  the  pains 
and  expense ;  as  it  proves  the  existence  of  a  raw  mate 
rial  where  no  one  ever  dreamed  of  looking  for  it." 

The  course  pursued  by  Russell  in  this  matter,  dis 
affected  some,  who  had  been  his  best  supporters  and 
most  valuable  aids  as  correspondents,  —  one  of  whom, 
at  least,  never  forgave  him,  and  would  never  after  permit 
the  Centinel  to  be  left  at  his  residence.  But  the  power  of 
the  federal  party  was  evidently  declining.  Russell  was 
chairman  of  the  Central  Committee,  and,  in  that  capacity, 
as  well  as  in  that  of  editor,  supported  the  nomination  of 
a  representative  to  Congress,  who  was  an  admitted  re 
publican  in  politics,  and  who  was  also  nominated  by  the 
republican  party.  From  this  "  Era  of  Good  Feelings," 
the  fate  of  the  Columbian  Centinel  was  sealed.  Its 
decline,  though  not  rapid,  was  perceptible,  and  it  soon 
came  to  be  disregarded  as  authority,  in  political  circles. 

On  the  President's  message,  at  the  opening  of  the 
next  session  of  Congress,  the  Centinel  said,  —  "It  will 
be  found  to  contain  much  interesting  and  satisfactory 

intelligence The  facts  in  the  message  are 

9 


98  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

judiciously  arranged  ;  the  style  is  as  plain  as  the  alpha 
bet  ;  and  its  frankness  and  total  exemption  from  that 
diplomatic  jargon,  which  so  often  'mystified'  other 
Presidential  State  Papers,  are  not  among  the  least  of  its 
merits." 

I  am  not  aware  that  Russell  ever  passed  a  word  of 
censure  upon  any  act  of  Mr.  Munroe's  administration,  or 
upon  that  of  Mr.  J.  Q.  Adams,  which  succeeded  it ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  all  their  public  measures  were 
approved,  and  some  of  them  made  the  subjects  of  inflat 
ed  encomium.  In  regard  to  the  politics  of  the  state  of 
Massachusetts,  a  feeble  opposition  to  the  republican 
leaders  was  kept  up  for  a  few  years.  Under  the  advice, 
or  dictation,  of  Mr.  Russell,  the  Federalists  nominated 
Judge  Levi  Lincoln  as  their  candidate  for  governor  of 
the  commonwealth.  He  had  previously  received  the 
nomination  of  the  Republicans,  —  with  whom,  as  a  party, 
he  had  always  been  identified,  —  and  declined,  but 
accepted  the  nomination  of  the  Federalists  and  was 
elected.  I  believe  this  was  the  last  nomination  made  by 
the  federal  party.  At  the  commencement  of  the  ad 
ministration  of  Mr.  Adams,  in  1825,  an  entire  new 
organization  of  parties  took  place,  and  the  adherents  of 
Mr.  Adams,  took  the  name  of  "  National  Republicans," 
—  a  name,  which  a  few  years  after,  was  discarded,  and 
that  of  Whig,  as  a  more  euphonious  and  convenient  des 
ignation,  —  took  its  place.  The  words  "  Massachusetts 
Federalist,"  which  had  formed  a  second  descriptive  title 
of  the  Centinel  for  more  than  twenty  years,  were  also 
laid  aside,  for  "  American  Federalist,"  as  more  truly 
indicative  of  its  editor's  attachment  to  the  Union,  with 
out  regard  to  party  names  or  organizations.  Mr.  Rus- 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  99 

sell  was  a  sincere  and  hearty  advocate  for  the  election  of 
John  Quincy  Adams  to  the  Presidency  in  1824,  and  for 
his  re-election  in  1828. 

During  the  twenty  years  preceding  this  "  Era  of  Good 
Feelings,"  the  political  communications  in  the  Centinel 
were  numerous,  written  with  great  ability,  and  with  un 
qualified  opposition  to  the  administration  of  Mr.  Jeffer 
son,  and  frequently  with  implacable  severity  upon  all  its 
advocates  and  defenders.  The  editor  was  backed  by 
gentlemen  of  the  first  talent  in  the  commonwealth  — 
gentlemen,  who,  as  a  select  body,  were  called,  by  the 
Republicans,  "the  Essex  Junto;"  but  —  by  whatever 
name,  or  whatever  might  have  been  the  origin  of  this 
phrase,  intended  as  an  epithet  of  reproach,  —  were  as 
honest  and  high-minded  men,  as  ever  lived.  The  memo 
rable  "  Hartford  Convention,"  of  1814,  had  some  of 
these  gentlemen  among  its  prominent  members  ;  and  the 
character,  which  Mr.  H.  G.  Otis  gave  of  that  assemblage, 
when  he  said,  that  a  body  of  purer  and  nobler-minded  men 
would  never  meet  again  until  the  general  assembly  of 
the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect,  —  may  be  received 
as  unexaggerated  truth. 

In  the  beginning  of  November,  1828,  Mr.  Russell 
sold  the  Centinel  to  Joseph  T.  Adams  —  a  young  gen 
tleman,  who  had  been  educated  for  a  lawyer,  —  and 
Thomas  Hudson,  —  who  had  served  a  regular  appren 
ticeship  in  the  office,  and  had,  for  some  years,  been  the 
foreman,  and  had  the  sole  direction  of  the  printing  de 
partment.  His  address  "  TO  THE  PATRONS  OF  THE 
CENTINEL,"  was  very  brief.  It  merely  introduced  his 
successors,  with  a  complimentary  assurance  of  their 
patriotism,  intelligence,  and  liberality,  and  added,  — 


100  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

Those,  who  have  been  acquainted  with  the  arduous  duties,  which, 
with  very  little  relaxation,  the  editor  has  performed  for  near  half  a  cen 
tury,  need  not  be  informed  of  the  necessity,  which  requires  the  transfer, 
now  announced. 

With  heart-felt  gratitude  and  thanks  for  innumerable  and  unceasing 
favors,  conferred  upon  the  undersigned  in  all  the  mutations  of  the  times, 
from  the  dark  period  of  1784  to  the  bright  days  of  1828,  by  his  generous 
and  indulgent  subscribers,  liberal  and  constant  advertising  friends,  and 
highly  talented  correspondents  ;  with  a  repetition  of  his  earnest  request 
that  the  patronage  he  has  enjoyed  may  be  continued  to  his  deserving 
young  successors ;  and  with  renewed  and  sincere  wishes  for  the  happi 
ness  of  all  his  friends,  he  tenders  them  an  affectionate  Farewell. 

BENJAMIN  RUSSELL. 

A  confraternal  dinner  was  given  to  Mr.  Russell,  by 
the  printers  and  editors  of  Boston,  at  the  Exchange 
Coffee- House,  on  the  15th  of  November.  It  was 
attended  by  several  of  the  printers  from  Salem  and 
Cambridge.  The  young,  the  middle-aged,  and  the  old, 
were  at  the  table,  and  all  seemed  generously  intent  on 
showing  honor  to  the  guest  of  the  occasion.  The  editor 
of  the  Boston  Daily  Advertiser,  Nathan  Hale,  Esq. 
presided  at  the  table.  On  rising  to  propose  a  toast  in 
honor  of  the  venerable  guest,  he  said,  — 

As  they  had  met  for  the  purpose  of  paying  a  tribute  of  respect  and 
affection  to  an  old  friend,  who  had  just  taken  leave  of  the  profession, 
in  which  they  had  been  associated  with  him,  it  was  a  fit  occasion  to 
bring  to  mind  some  of  the  services  he  had  rendered,  and  to  express  the 
sense  they  entertained  of  his  many  good  qualities.  Their  veteran  friend 
had  been  the  conductor  of  a  public  paper  nearly  from  the  date  of  the 
acknowledgment  of  our  national  independence ;  and,  during  that  whole 
period,  had  taken  an  active  part  in  the  politics  of  the  day.  He  had 
never  been  neutral  on  any  question,  in  which  he  conceived  the  welfare 
of  the  country  was  involved,  but  had  always  supported  the  side,  which 
he  believed  to  be  right  —  boldly,  earnestly,  and  ably.  This  he  had 
always  done  with  good  temper,  and  with  no  unkind  feelings  towards 
his  adversaries.  If  he  was  ever  found  in  the  wrong,  it  always  gave  him 
pleasure  to  be  set  right.  It  had  been  the  lot  of  few  men  to  be  actors  in 
so  many  important  political  events  as  he.  In  no  one  was  he  more  dis- 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  101 

tinguished,  than  in  the  great  work  of  rearing  the  edifice  of  our  national 
Constitution.  The  pillars  of  this  fabric,  as  they  were  slowly  and  labori 
ously  raised,  were  delineated  on  the  print  of  his  paper,  to  show  the  pro 
gress  of  the  work ;  and  those,  who  were  engaged  in  the  task,  were  con 
stantly  aided,  encouraged,  and  cheered,  by  the  agency  of  his  indefatiga 
ble  press.  His  paper,  though  changed,  from  time  to  time,  in  its  outward 
appearance,  with  the  progress  of  the  arts,  and  extended  in  its  dimen 
sions,  with  the  growth  of  the  community,  has  always  retained  the  same 
spirit  —  a  spirit  uniformly  devoted  to  the  promotion  of  the  public  good. 
For  more  than  forty  years,  it  has  had  a  most  important  agency  in  form 
ing  the  public  mind  —  in  diffusing  knowledge  and  sound  principles  — 
in  correcting  errors  —  in  promoting  useful  projects  —  and  in  advancing 
the  welfare  and  securing  the  good  order  of  society.  In  promoting  these 
objects,  he  has  had  the  countenance,  assistance,  and  friendship  of  some 
of  the  wisest  and  best  men  of  the  country.  He  has  set  a  good  exam 
ple  to  those,  who  are  in  a  situation  to  follow  his  steps ;  and,  in  retiring 
from  the  occupation,  in  which  we  have  been  associated  with  him,  he  is 
entitled  to  a  hearty  expression  of  our  good  will  and  esteem,  and  to  our 
kindest  benedictions. 

The  Chairman  then  proposed  —  "  The  health  of  our 
veteran  friend,  who,  through  a  long  life  of  useful  public 
services,  has  been  most  esteemed  by  those,  who  knew 
him  best."  In  an  affecting  manner,  but  somewhat 
embarrassed  by  his  feelings,  Mr.  Russell  replied,  as  fol 
lows  :  — 

MR.  PRESIDENT  AND  GENTLEMEN, 

In  requesting  your  acceptance  of  my  thanks  for  the  sentiment 
announced  from  the  Chair,  every  pulsation  of  my  heart  beats  with  grat 
itude,  for  the  friendly  and  fraternal  manner,  in  which  my  discharge  of 
editorial  duties  has  been  viewed,  by  those,  who  are  the  best  judges  of 
them,  and  for  the  friendly  interview  now  enjoyed.  I  trust  that  a  formal 
speech  is  not  expected  from  me.  I  could  not,  if  I  would,  make  one ; 
and  I  would  not  if  I  could,  detain  you  for  any  length  of  time,  from  the 
feast  of  reason,  which  you,  gentlemen,  have  known  so  well  how  to  pro 
vide.  But,  without  remaining  wholly  silent,  when  called  upon  by  duty, 
permit  me  to  say,  that  it  has  been  with  regret  that  I  have  considered  it 
necessary  to  dissolve  my  connection,  as  far  as  regards  labor  and  care, 
with  a  profession,  which  needs  no  general  panegyric.  Its  importance  to 
the  world  and  to  civil  liberty,  and  its  great  utility,  are  stamped  in  every 
step  of  the  march  of  mind,  and  every  verdict,  pronounced  by  public 
9* 


102  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

opinion.  And  you,  gentlemen,  are  well  qualified  to  make  its  character 
as  honorable  to  our  country  as  it  is  useful  to  all  countries.  That  the 
profession  of  an  editor  is  not,  as  some  have  asserted,  irksome,  and  with 
out  enjoyment,  permit  me  to  inform  such  gainsayers,  as  one  proof,  at 
least,  of  their  error,  that  there  is  an  individual,  who  entered  it  as  a  vol 
unteer,  pursued  it  with  a  steady  march  more  than  forty  years,  and  found 
it,  with  all  its  toils  by  day  and  watchings  by  night,  not  only  a  source  of 
gratification,  but  never  attended  by  a  single  hour  of  regret  or  disgust. 
This  individual,  Mr.  President,  could  also  add,  that  during  the  lapse  of 
time,  that  has  been  mentioned,  and  which,  it  is  well  known,  has  been 
filled  up  with  momentous  events,  he  has  not  the  recollection  of  a  single 
instance,  when,  in  the  most  zealous  discharge  of  duty  and  devotion  to 
the  cause  he  espoused,  that  he  has  not  recognized  a  brother  in  every 
opponent,  and  been  ready  to  extend  to  him  the  fraternal  hand  and  to 
reciprocate  social  feelings.  This,  Mr.  President,  is  not  an  ebullition  of 
egotism;  and  that  individual  feels,  that  it  is  to  the  knowledge  of  this 
disposition,  and  not  for  any  professional  eminence,  that  he  is  indebted 
for  the  kind  attention,  that  has  always  been  paid  to  him. 

Mr.  Russell  was  evidently  much  embarrassed  by  his 
feelings  ;  for,  in  the  course  of  his  life,  he  had  made 
many  speeches  on  exciting  occasions,  from  the  impulse 
of  the  moment,  much  better  as  to  style  and  arrangement, 
than  this.  To  what  particular  circumstance,  —  if  any,  — 
he  alluded,  when  he  said  he  considered  it  necessary  that 
he  should  dissolve  his  connection  with  the  press,  is  not 
known.  He  had  not  manifested  any  failure  of  physical 
faculties  or  of  his  natural  intellectual  vigor,  that  should 
render  such  a  step  indispensable  ;  and  he  was  not  so  far 
advanced  in  life  that  he  might  not  have  continued  to 
conduct  his  paper  for  many  years.  The  circulation  of 
the  Centinel  had  diminished,  and  other  papers  had 
sprung  into  existence,  and  were  gaining  popularity  with 
a  younger  generation.  This  might  have  operated  un 
pleasantly  on  his  feelings ;  and,  probably,  he  foresaw 
that,  without  a  change  in  his  style  of  writing  and  general 
system  of  arranging  his  materials,  in  order  to  suit  his 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  103 

paper  to  the  taste  of  the  "  varying  hour,"  its  circulation 
would  continue  to  diminish,  until  the  establishment  might 
be  of  little  value ;  and  that  it  would  be  better  to  sell  it 
then,  than  to  run  the  hazard  of  a  poorer  bargain  when  a 
sale  would  be  unavoidable.  Many  persons  had  been 
subscribers  to  the  paper  from  its  commencement,  and 
many  others  had  been  its  readers  and  supporters  for  a 
long  time,  —  all  of  whom  regretted  Mr.  Russell's  re 
tirement  ;  but  it  was,  notwithstanding,  a  judicious  and 
fortunate  procedure.  Neither  the  talent  nor  the  industry 
of  the  new  proprietors,  —  though  perseveringly  exer 
cised, —  was  sufficient  to  place  the  Centinel  on  the 
commanding  eminence  it  had  once  occupied.  Its  sub 
scription  list  was  augmented  in  1830  by  the  addition  of 
that  of  the  New-England  Palladium,  and  in  April, 
1836,  by  that  of  the  Boston  Gazette.  From  1830,  it 
was  issued  daily  as  well  as  semi-weekly  ;  but,  with  all 
these  accessions  to  its  support,  it  continued  to  decline,  till 
the  first  of  May,  1840,  when  it  was  sold  to  the  proprietors 
of  the  Boston  Daily  Advertiser,  and  its  identity  was 
merged  and  lost  in  the  more  popular  traits  of  character, 
which  distinguished  that  paper. 

While  he  was  editor  of  the  Centinel,  Mr.  Russell 
was  always  ready  to  promote  all  projects  for  public  im 
provement,  and  all  institutions  for  philanthropic  pur 
poses.  He  was  always  ready  to  contribute  of  his  means 
to  public  or  private  charity.  Avarice  was  not  one  of 
his  failings  ;  if  it  had  been,  he  might  have  died  worth 
half  a  million.  The  following  anecdote,  —  which,  per 
haps,  many  readers  may  have  heard  from  his  own  lips,  — 
illustrates  the  generosity  of  his  disposition,  in  cases  of 
private  necessity :  — 


104  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

About  the  year  1790,  when  Russell  was  in  the  habit 
of  visiting,  personally,  all  vessels  newly  arrived  in  the 
harbor,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  intelligence^Xhe 
went  on  board  of  one  from  the  island  of  Guadaloupe, 
and  examining  the  list  of  passengers,  he  perceived  the 
name  of  Udin,  or  Udang.*  Having  known  a  captain 
of  that  name,  while  he  was  in  the  army,  and  knowing 
that  he  was  an  officer,  in  whom  General  Washington 
placed  great  confidence  for  fidelity  and  enterprize  in 
peculiar  services,  Russell  set  off  in  search  of  him,  and, 
after  considerable  fruitless  inquiry,  found  him  at  an  infe 
rior  tavern  in  Corn  Court,  so  called,  kept  by  a  well- 
known  landlady  by  the  name  of  Duggan,  whose  sign  was 
a  picture  of  John  Hancock.  It  was  in  the  winter,  and 
the  weather  was  extremely  cold.  He  found  the  old  revo 
lutionary  soldier,  thinly  dressed  in  a  short  Nankin 
jacket,  and  trowsers  of  the  same  material,  hovering  over  a 
small  pan  of  coals,  destitute  of  money,  or  any  other  val 
uable  property.  They  recognized  each  other.  The 
captain  was  delighted  to  see  an  old  acquaintance,  and 
after  some  few  ceremonies  of  recognition,  earnestly  and 
affectionately  inquired  after  the  health  and  happiness  of 
the  great  commander,  as  he  was  accustomed  to  call 
General  Washington.  Russell,  whenever  suffered  him 
self  to  be  outdone  in  expressions  of  love  and  reverence 
for  Washington,  was  touched  by  these  tokens  of  devo 
tion  towards  the  man,  whom  of  all  others,  he  most  vener 
ated,  and  immediately  took  measures  for  the  relief  of  the 
captain  from  his  state  of  utter  destitution.  He  got  up 
a  subscription  and  raised  money  enough  to  purchase  for 
him  two  suits  of  clothing,  and  to  enable  him  to  board, 

*  The  orthography  of  this  nrune  is  uncertain. 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  105 

for  a  time,  at  a  more  respectable  public  house,  —  the 
Bunch-of-Grapes  tavern  in  State-street.  Russell  then 
set  himself  to  work  to  get  a  situation  for  the  captain, 
that  would  afford  him  a  suitable  maintenance.  By  ap 
plication  to  General  Lincoln  and  some  other  distinguished 
men,  well  known  to  Washington,  an  office  of  some  emol 
ument,  was  secured  for  him  at  Albany,  where  he  was 
respected  as  a  faithful  and  capable  officer  and  a  worthy 
citizen. 

Another  incident  occurred  in  the  life  of  Russell,  which, 
though  for  a  time  a  topic  of  much  abuse  from  his  political 
opponents,  was  really  so  creditable  to  the  good  feelings 
of  his  heart,  and  so  happily  illustrated  the  natural  energy 
of  his  character,  that  it  should  not  be  forgotten.  One  of 
his  cousins,  William  Russell  of  Salem,  was  a  prisoner  of 
war  on  board  the  British  frigate  Nymph,  which,  in  1814, 
was  cruising  in  and  near  the  harbor  of  Boston.  He 
entertained  a  notion  that  he  could  get  his  relative  re 
leased.  Without  consulting  any  of  his  friends,  or  making 
his  project  known,  even  to  his  family,  he  hired  a  small 
fishing-boat,  with  two  men  to  manage  it,  and  went  in 
search  of  the  frigate.  Not  knowing  exactly  at  what 
point  she  was  to  be  found,  nor  knowing  how  long  it 
might  take  to  discover  her,  he  took  with  him  provisions 
sufficient  to  last  him  and  his  associates  about  ten  days. 
These  provisions  consisted  of  fresh  beef  and  mutton, 
poultry,  bread,  butter,  and  cheese,  and  a  generous  allow 
ance  of  wine.  He  had  the  good  fortune  to  fall  in  with 
the  Nymph  about  twenty  miles  from  Boston.  His  boat 
was  hailed  from  the  frigate.  The  captain  was  informed 
that  the  persons  in  the  boat  were  anxious  to  see  a  rela 
tion  who  was  a  prisoner  in  the  ship.  Russell  was  per- 


106  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

mitted  to  go  on  board.  He  represented  to  the  captain 
the  case  of  his  cousin,  and  prevailed  on  him  to  release 
his  prisoner.  As  the  crew  of  the  frigate  were  rather 
short  of  provisions,  the  commanding  officer  thought  it  a 
good  opportunity  to  lessen  the  number  of  prisoners,  and 
released  William  Russell  on  condition  that  four  other 
prisoners,  who  were  on  the  sick  list,  should  be  taken 
away  with  him.  This  proposition  was,  of  course,  readily 
agreed  to.  Then,  and  not  till  then,  Russell  made  a 
present  to  the  officers  of  the  Nymph  of  the  provisions 
he  had  on  board  his  boat,  —  an  act  of  courtesy,  which 
could  hardly  have  been  omitted  without  incurring  an 
imputation  of  meanness.  But  it  furnished  the  demo 
cratic  party  with  the  groundwork  of  a  charge  of  aiding 
and  assisting  the  enemy,  of  treasonable  intercourse,  &,c. 
No  notice  was  taken  of  it  by  the  government,  though 
some  of  the  influential  newspapers  were  loud  in  their 
censures  and  denunciations.  After  an  absence  of  about 
thirty-six  hours  from  the  town,  Russell  arrived  safely  with 
the  five  released  captives  as  evidence  of  his  address. 

Though  he  made  no  pretensions  to  literary  scholarship, 
he  was  frequently  consulted  in  regard  to  literary  compo 
sitions  intended  for  popular  effect.  When  Thomas 
Paine  (afterwards  Robert  Treat  Paine,)  had  written  his 
celebrated  Song,  "  Adams  and  Liberty,"  he  showed  the 
manuscript  to  Russell,  who,  after  casting  his  eye  over  it, 
said,  "  You  have  not  introduced  the  name  of  Washing 
ton."  Struck  with  the  omission,  which  was  entirely 
inadvertent,  Paine  sat  down  at  Russell's  table,  and 
wrote  the  following  stanza  :  — 

Should  the  tempest  of  war  overshadow  our  land, 

Its  bolts  would  ne'er  rend  Freedom's  temple  asunder, 
For,  unmoved,  at  its  portal  would  Washington  stand, 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  107 

And  repulse  with  his  breast  the  assaults  of  the  thunder. 
His  sword  from  the  sleep 
Of  its  scabbard  would  leap, 
And  conduct  with  its  point,  every  flash  to  the  deep. 

Paine  often  acknowledged  that  he  was  indebted  to  the 
suggestion  of  Russell  for  the  introduction  of  this  stanza, 
into  a  composition,  which  has  probably  done  more  to 
extend  his  fame  than  any  thing  else  he  had  written. 

The  newspaper  poets  were  proud  of  seeing  their  pro 
ductions  in  the  Centinel,  and  the  editor  usually  repaid 
their  favors  with  a  compliment.  Many  of  these  contri 
butions  are  as  well  worthy  of  preservation,  as  hundreds 
and  thousands  of  verses,  which  are  imported,  and  stamped 
with  the  approving  seal  of  British  critics.  The  little 
epigram,  which  follows,  with  Russell's  introductory  crit 
icism,  appears  as  original  in  the  Centinel  of  August  2, 
1800:- 

CC]P*  We  may  search  far  and  long  before  we  shall  find  a  more  delicate 
morceau  than  the  following :  — 

THE  FEMALE  GRAMMARIAN. 
"  A  Kiss,"  said  young  Charles,  "  is  a  noun,  we  allow, 

But  tell  me,  my  dear,  is  it  proper,  or  common  !  " 
Lovely  Myra  blushed  deep,  and  exclaimed  —  "  Why  I  vow, 

I  think  that  a  kiss  is  both  proper  and  common  !  " 

Several  pieces  of  poetry  appeared  in  the  Centinel,  the 
same  year,  signed  "  Analaski,"  of  which  the  following 
is  the  best,  and  which,  the  editor  said,  u  presents  a  high- 
wrought  Picture  from  the  Pencil  of  impassioned  Genius 
and  Sensibility  "  :  — 

ODE, 

ON  THE  FOLLY  OF  EXULTING  ON  FOREIGN  WAR. 

Scenes  of  sweet  peace !  our  native  plains, 

Ye  wild  paths  of  our  airy  hills ! 
Ye  gates  of  Heaven,  our  father's  fanes, 

Which  vet  Devotion's  fervor  fills  ! 


108  COLUMBIAN  CENTINEL. 

Mid  ye  should  angry  murmurs  swell  ? 
To  tranquil  joys  the  heart  rebel  ? 
Exulting  when  the  wrath  of  war 
Hurls  its  volcanic  torrents,  dreadfully  afar ! 

To  us,  indifferent,  whether  reign 

The  impious  Gaul,  or  zealous  Russ ; 
A  silken  or  an  iron  chain 

Alike,  to  Honor  is  a  curse. 
Our  wishes  cannot  change  decrees 
Of  Heaven's  high  monarch,  as  he  please 
States  and  their  Empires  are  o'erthrown, 
'Tis  his  commissioned  worm  that  saps  the  monarch's  throne. 

The  steed  in  verdant  pasture  bred 

Starts  at  the  martial-rallying  choir, 
Wild  floats  the  forelock  o'er  his  head, 

His  nostrils  smoke,  his  eyes  are  fire ; 
'Till  custom  round  the  martial  plain 
Guides  him  with  her  imperial  rein ; 
Then  all  impatient  for  the  field 
He  laughs  th'  embattled  host,  and  spurns  the  glittering  shield. 

Thus  hearts  that  throb'd  at  fiction's  tale, 
With  battle's  shouts  familiar  grow ;  — 
Mothers,  whom  distant  war  made  pale, 

From  Glory's  carnage  learn  to  glow.  — 
From  them,  what  daughters  shall  be  led 
Shameless,  to  vex  the  marriage  bed ! 
Nor  joy,  nor  love,  nor  soft  desire, 
Nor  heavenly  charity,  one  tender  wish  inspire ! 

A  single  death  in  times  of  yore, 

Was  subject  for  a  nation's  tears ; 
Whole  nations  weltering  in  their  gore 
Will  scarcely  satiate  moderns'  ears ; 
Thus  when  th'  avenging  angel  hied, 
The  first-born-hope  of  Egypt  died. 
Scourges  of  blood  the  fountains  dry 
Of  every  tender  thought  of  sweet  humanity. 

Behold  Helvetia's  favored  plain, 

Ere  by  the  storm  of  war  o'erswept, 
There  gayly  waved  the  yellow  grain, 

The  child  in  fearless  cradle  slept ; 


BENJAMIN     RUSSELL.  109 

The  shepherd's  pipe  was  heard  at  noon, 
To  rustic  revels  lit  the  moon, 
The  wife's  quick  shuttle  plied  the  woof, 
While  bending  age,  made  welcome  every  humble  roof. 

Waked  by  the  kine,  that  at  the  door 

With  outstretched  neck  impatient  lowed 
Her  swelling  udder  to  out-pour 

And  join  the  neighboring  pasture-crowd, 
The  youth  to  active  labor  sprung, 
And  jocund  up  the  mountain  sung, 
Below  whose  summit  crowned  with  snows, 
Fair  love,  unspotted  faith,  health,  happiness  repose :  — 

Now  see !  the  ox  with  loosened  yoke 

Wander  deserted  hills  around ! 
Behold  the  cottage  ruins  smoke  ! 

Behold  the  indignant  peasant  bound ! 
While  tottering  age,  affrighted  maids, 
Fear  the  loud  sigh  mid  caverned  shades, 
And  mothers  dumb,  at  terror's  cry, 
Throw,  to  the  iron-hoof,  their  infant  progeny ! 

What  though  on  Alps,  huge  Alps  arise, 

And  snows  eternal  fence  the  coast  ? 
To  scale  the  heavens  Ambition  hies, 

And  Havoc  urges  on  the  host ; 
Pale  Famine  on  their  steps  attend, 
Ruin,  the  desolating  fiend ; 
Starts  from  the  blood-soaked  sod  the  horse, 
And  screams  the  affrighted  raven  o'er  the  mangled  corse ! 

While  Victory  high  her  standard  waves 

How  writhes  below  the  wounded  plain ! 
Along  the  hills  what  torture  raves ! 

What  thousands  envious  of  the  slain ! 
O'er  them  the  careless  victor  rides, 
Stamping  his  steed's  feet  in  their  sides, 
While  sullen  moves  the  groaning  team, 
Plunging  their  writhing  bodies  in  the  bloody  stream. 

Perversely  then  shall  we  exult, 

When  Glory's  shout  is  borne  on  air  ? 
What  is  of  war  the  true  result 

But  silent  misery  and  despair ! 

VOL.    II.  10 


110  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

Our  ardent  passions  take  the  rein, 
Unless  secured  by  reason's  chain, 
Pure  virtue  ne'er  exulting  flies 
From  calm  humanity  and  peace  to  boisterous  skies. 

Mr.  Russell  was  proud  of  his  character  as  a  me 
chanic.  To  the  mechanics,  as  a  class,  he  was  strongly 
and  affectionately  attached.  When,  in  the  brightest 
day  of  his  political  career,  when  he  was  associated  with 
men  of  the  highest  rank  in  political  circles,  and  even 
courted  by  some  of  the  leaders  of  his  party,  he  never 
forgot  that  he  was  a  mechanic,  and  would,  at  almost  any 
time,  withdraw  from  a  political  committee,  or  conference, 
to  attend  a  meeting  of  mechanics.  His  agency  in  the 
meetings  at  the  Green  Dragon,  while  the  Convention 
were  discussing  the  Federal  Constitution,  has  already 
been  noticed.  In  1795,  he,  with  a  few  other  mechanics 
of  Boston,  formed  a  society,  afterwards  named  the  Mas 
sachusetts  Charitable  Mechanic  Association.  Of  this 
association  he  was  President  from  1808  to  1817,  inclu 
sive.  He  was  always  sincerely  devoted  to  its  interests, 
and  did  more  than  any  other  individual  to  establish  it  on 
a  permanent  basis,  and  to  increase  its  popularity,  useful 
ness,  and  reputation.  He  was  also  President  of  the 
Faustus  Association,  —  a  society  formed  by  the  printers 
of  Boston  and  the  adjacent  towns,  for  mutual  protection 
and  advantage. 

Mr.  Russell  had  not  only  an  ambition  for  public  em 
ployment  ;  he  had  a  talent  that  enabled  him  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  every  employment,  that  his  fellow-citizens 
saw  fit  to  impose  upon  him.  He  filled  the  important 
station  of  President  of  the  Board  of  Health  of  the  town 
of  Boston,  from  1806  to  1810,  inclusive.  He  was  a 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  Ill 

member  of  the  school  committee,  by  election  of  the 
people,  from  1817  to  1821,  inclusive,  and,  afterwards, 
held  the  same  office  by  virtue  of  his  office  as  an  alder 
man  of  the  city.  He  was  a  member  of  the  common 
council  from  the  organization  of  the  city  government  in 
1822,  and  was  annually  re-elected  for  four  successive 
years.  In  1829  he  was  elected  an  alderman,  and  re- 
elected  for  three  successive  years.  Probably  no  other 
man  had  ever  held  the  office  of  a  popular  representative 
so  many  years  in  succession.  He  was  first  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Massachu 
setts,  in  1805,  and  was  re-elected  every  succeeding  year 
thereafter,  including  1821.  In  1822  and  1825,  he  was 
elected  a  senator  for  the  county  of  Suffolk  ;  and  again, 
a  representative  from  Boston  in  1828,  and  each  succeed 
ing  year,  including  1835.  In  1836  and  1837,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Council ;  and  this,  I  believe, 
was  the  last  of  his  service  in  any  public  capacity. 

Mr.  Russell's  retirement  from  all  connection  with  the 
Press  was  sincerely  regretted  by  his  professional  cotem- 
poraries.  Although,  during  the  long  period  of  high  polit 
ical  excitement,  he  had  been  engaged  in  many  angry 
disputes,  and  had  not  been  over-scrupulous  in  the  appli 
cation  of  personal  reflections,  yet,  from  the  day  when 
Mr.  Munroe  was  elected  to  the  Presidency,  —  when  the 
federal  party  became  virtually  dissolved,  and  gave  up  its 
existence  as  an  organized  national  party,  he  had  been 
one  of  the  most  courteous  and  good-natured  of  editors. 
From  the  date  of  that  election  to  the  last  publi 
cation  under  his  name,  it  would  be  difficult,  if  not  im 
possible,  to  find  in  the  Centinel  a  severe  or  bitter  remark 
upon  those  of  the  profession,  who  did  not  fall  in  with  his 


]  12  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

views  of  the  policy,  which  he  had  adopted.  He  had 
hailed  that  election  as  the  commencement  of  an  "  Era 
of  Good  Feelings,"  and  he  adhered  to  the  principle, 
indicated  by  that  significant  phrase,  with  entire  good 
faith.  As,  in  his  private  intercourse,  he  had  never  har 
bored  resentment  long  enough  to  extinguish  his  sympa 
thies,  except,  perhaps,  in  a  single  instance,  so,  when  his 
political  relations  were  changed,  his  political  animosities 
expired.  Socially  and  politically,  he  suffered  not  the  sun 
to  go  down  upon  his  wrath.  He  had  a  fiery  and  a  hasty 
temper,  but  it  might  be  aptly  and  truly  said  of  him,  he 
"  carried  anger  as  the  flint  bears  fire,  which,  much  en 
forced,  shows  a  hasty  spark,  and  straight  is  cold  again." 
Being  now  a  man  of  perfect  leisure,  Mr.  Russell 
sought  public  employment,  and  his  fellow-citizens  were 
ready  to  avail  themselves  of  his  experience  and  willing 
ness  to  serve  them.  He  was  four  times  elected  an 
alderman  of  the  city,  — as  before  stated,  —  an  office  of 
much  labor,  and  with  no  compensation.  He  was  again 
sent  to  the  Legislature  as  a  representative.  His  election 
as  a  member  of  the  Executive  Council,  was  made  by 
the  vote  of  the  Legislature.  When  not  engaged  in 
public  employment,  he  was  almost  daily  seen  on  the 
Exchange,  or  in  some  other  public  place,  where  he  was 
wont  to  relate  the  incidents  and  anecdotes  of  days  gone 
by,  and  where  he  always  found  willing  auditors.  In 
1837,  he  was  severely  afflicted  by  the  death  of  his 
wife,  —  a  lady,  whose  many  excellent  endowments,  as 
a  wife,  a  mother,  and  a  friend,  had  made  his  house  a 
paradise  for  near  forty  years.  By  this  bereavement  he 
lost  a  friend  and  counselor,  who  had  acquired  an  influ 
ence  over  his  heart  and  understanding,  that  was  discern- 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  113 

ible  in  the  softening  of  some  of  the  asperities  of  his 
natural  temper.  Soon  after,  he  broke  up  his  domestic 
establishment,  and  took  lodgings  for  himself,  an  unmar 
ried  daughter,  and  an  unmarried  sister,  in  a  private 
boarding-house. 

It  has  been  stated  that  Mr.  Russell  left  no  manuscripts 
in  the  form  of  a  diary,  and  hardly  a  scrap  of  paper,  on 
which  he  had  made  a  memorandum  of  any  occurrence. 
I  have  not  been  able  to  discover  any  thing  that  he 
wrote,  after  he  relinquished  the  situation  of  editor,  except 
a  very  few  letters  to  his  intimate  friends.  The  letter, 
which  follows,  and  which,  judging  from  its  date,  I  ap 
prehend  was  one  of  his  longest  and  latest,  carries  on  its 
face  all  necessary  explanation.  The  original  has  many 
erasures  and  interlineations.  Two  or  three  omissions 
are  supplied  by  the  words  in  brackets :  — 

Lincoln-street,  June  24,  1840. 
My  dear  friend, 

I  am  fearful,  from  the  conversation  we  had  to 
day  at  Ashton's,  that  you  are  under  a  wrong  impression  respecting  the 
late  Whig  gathering,  in  Worcester.  It  was  no  mob  meeting ;  but  a 
convocation  worthy  of  the  Old  Bay  State,  although  a  little  too  noisy  in 
the  afterpiece.  I  refused  going,  as  a  regular  delegate,  because  I  did  not 
wish  to  take  on  myself  the  responsibility  of  attending  the  convention, 
as  such,  as  I  had  perfect  confidence,  that  good  Whig  nominations  would 
be  made  by  those  who  did  go,  and  my  defect  of  hearing  could  not  have 
permitted  [me]  to  discharge  any  duty,  which  my  age,  &c.  might  have 
induced  friends  to  call  me  [to  perform.]  Nor  did  I  make  up  my  mind 
to  go,  as  a  volunteer,  until  Wednesday  morning,  when,  seeing  the  mighty 
masses,  which  were  thronging  the  depot,  and  wishing  to  be  a  mere 
looker-on,  in  my  second  native  town,  of  the  largest  assemblage  ever 
convened  in  the  Heart  of  the  Commonwealth,  I  jumped  into  the  car 
and  went.  An  accident  prevented  me  from  seeing  the  early  part  of  the 
proceedings ;  but  all  I  did  see,  bating  the  huzzas  and  salutations,  re 
ciprocated  between  the  Whig  Ladies  of  Worcester  and  their  Whig 
visitors,  was  done  [in]  good  order,  good  discipline,  cheerful  coun 
tenance,  and  not  an  instance  of  Intemperance.  The  business  of  the 
10* 


114  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

Convention,  which  I  did  not  see,  I  am  confidently  assured,  was  done  as 
well  as  at  the  Conventions  we  have  attended.  A  large  majority  of  the 
Deputies  elect  met  the  evening  before,  and  made  the  usual  Caucus  ar 
rangements.  These,  and  many  others,  met  at  an  early  hour  on  Wednes 
day  forenoon ;  were  duly  organized,  and  proceeded  to  the  usual  nom 
inations,  which  were  unanimously  agreed  to,  and  reported  to,  and  con 
firmed  by,  other  assemblages  of  Whigs,  from  all  parts  of  the  State  and 
Connecticut,  accompanied  by  many  hundred  banners  and  many  bands 
of  music.  All  these  were  paraded  with  the  utmost  regularity,  and  oc 
cupied  a  cortege  of  nearly  two  miles  in  length.  Several  hundreds 
who  were  in  the  cars,  [by]  the  accident  I  have  alluded  to,  were  pre 
vented  coming  on  the  field  till  afternoon.  But  all  the  business  had 
been  finished  and  confirmed  with  approbation,  and  therefore  [we]  had 
nothing  more  to  do,  than  to  join  in  the  felicitations,  and  hearty  cheers, 
which  overflowed  from  all  hearts.  But  for  the  accident  alluded  to, 
which  could  not  be  prevented,  —  the  whole  gathering  would  have 
passed  off  with  as  much  order  and  decorum,  as  that  which  has  ever 
attended  the  great  Mechanic  and  Civic  Processions,  which  we  have 
seen  in  Boston.  To  this  circumstance  I  attribute  the  fact,  that  the  loud 
cheers  were  made  by  those  who  came  at  the  eleventh  hour,  and  who  had 
no  other  means  of  becoming  known  to  the  convention.  The  best  dis 
cipline  pervaded  all  the  numerous  ranks.  The  utmost  attention  was 
paid  to  the  speakers'  addresses,  from  the  numerous  hustings,  which  the 
great  multitude  made  indispensable  ;  and  there  was  not  one  mob-like 
or  disorderly  movement  made  during  the  day  or  evening.  The  cheer- 
ings  were  heartfelt,  and  must  have  been  heard  with  pleasure  by  every 
Whig  ear  within  hearing.  I  repeat,  that  all  the  Business  parts  of  the 
day  were  conducted  with  true  Yankee  order  and  decorum;  and  the 
cheerings,  although  loud  and  hearty,  and  might  have  been  considered 
too  loud,  were  not  more  loud  and  hearty,  than  you  and  I  have  heard  in 
old  Faneuil  Hall.  The  People  feel  the  wrongs  of  their  tyrannical  Op 
pressors, —  and  when  they  raise  the  voice  to  proclaim  them,  —  it  is  the 
voice  of  God.  I  hate  mobs  in  the  true  acceptation  of  the  term  ;  but  I  am 
confident,  had  you  been  at  Worcester,  under  the  circumstances  in  which 
I  was  placed,  you  would  have  contradicted  every  assertion,  that  the 
Worcester  gathering  was  a  mob  proceeding.  I  make  this  statement  in 
the  sincerity  of  my  heart,  to  remove  any  impressions  which  you  must 
have  had  on  your  mind,  in  what  you  remarked  to-day. 

Your  affectionate  fellow  citizen,  BENJ.  RUSSELL. 

I  write  in  great  haste,  and  hope  you  will  excuse  this  scrawl.* 

*  The  name  under  the  engraved  portrait,  which  accompanies  this  volume,  is  a 
fac  simile  of  the  signature  affixed  to  this  letter.  It  will  be  observed  that  at  the 
date  of  it  Mr.  Russell  was  near  the  completion  of  his  seventy-ninth  year. 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  115 

Mr.  Russell  was  much  affected  by  the  death  of  his 
wife,  and  a  decay  of  his  intellectual  power  was  per 
ceived  by  his  familiar  acquaintance.  In  1843,  another 
event  had  a  similar  effect.  This  was  the  sudden  death 
of  a  son-in-law,  Samuel  L.  Abbot,  an  amiable  man  and 
highly  respectable  merchant.  To  the  business  talent  of 
Mr.  Abbot,  Mr.  Russell  had  been  indebted  for  much  aid 
in  the  management  of  his  pecuniary  affairs,  and  the  death 
of  so  excellent  an  adviser  and  friend,  seemed  to  be  the 
removal  of  a  prop,  that  supported  his  house.  From  this 
time,  the  failure  of  his  physical  and  intellectual  facul 
ties  became  too  evident  and  too  rapid  to  escape  the 
notice  of  those  that  knew  him.  His  gait  was  noticeable 
for  a  shuffling  motion,  as  if  the  machinery,  which  lifted 
the  feet,  was  entirely  out  of  order.  He  seldom  visited 
places  of  public  resort,  and  his  walks  for  exercise  were 
chiefly  on  the  common.  His  memory  was  much  im 
paired.  Though  he  would  still  relate  incidents  of  his 
youth  and  early  manhood,  —  sometimes  with  surprizing 
accuracy,  —  yet,  at  other  times,  he  lost  entirely  the  order 
of  events,  in  regard  to  which  he  had  once  been  scrupu 
lously  exact. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1844,  I  sat  with  him,  at  his 
boarding-house,  a  couple  of  hours.  There  was  a  military 
review  on  the  common  ;  and,  knowing  that  he  had  never 
permitted  such  an  event  to  pass  off  without  his  being  a 
spectator,  I  asked  him  if  he  would  like  to  walk  out  and  see 
the  troops.  He  said  he  did  not  feel  quite  smart  enough  to 
bustle  through  the  crowd.  A  few  minutes  afterwards  he 
asked  if  they  were  voting  for  President.  This  confusion  of 
ideas  in  his  mind  was  a  melancholy  manifestation  of  the 
loss  of  memory.  When  I  informed  him  that  the  election 


116  COLUMBIAN    CENTINEL. 

of  President  would  not  take  place  for  some  days  to 
come,  he  seemed  to  be  mortified  that  he  had  committed 
such  an  error.  To  restore  him  to  cheerfulness,  I  men 
tioned  the  names  of  some  of  his  old  friends  in  the 
Mechanic  Association.  His  memory  and  natural  joy- 
ousness  revived,  and  he  related  many  anecdotes  concern 
ing  the  past  members  of  that  association,  and  talked 
much  of  the  difficulties  they  had  to  encounter  in  the 
early  stages  of  its  history.  He  then  reverted  to  revolu 
tionary  times,  and  repeated  the  whole  of  a  poem,  written 
by  J.  M.  Sewall,  and  recited,  or  sung,  at  Worcester,  in 
1776,  entitled  "  The  Fiery  Devil."  It  was  a  parody 
on  a  British  song  —  "  The  Watery  God."  It  contained 
more  than  a  hundred  lines.  He  had  repeated  this  to 
me,  a  few  years  before,  and  I  then  wrote  it  down  from  his 
dictation,  not  knowing  that  there  was  any  printed  copy 
of  it  in  existence.  Afterwards,  I  saw  it  in  a  newspaper 
printed  in  1784.  On  comparing  the  printed  copy  with 
my  manuscript,  taken  from  his  recollection,  I  discovered 
the  variation  of  a  single  word  only,  and  that  a  very  un 
important  one. 

After  this  interview  I  saw  Mr.  Russell  but  once.  I 
called  on  him  one  morning  in  November,  in  company 
with  a  gentleman,  —  a  member  of  the  Mechanic  Asso- 
tion  —  with  whom  he  had  long  been  familiarly  ac 
quainted.  We  found  him  rather  indisposed  to  conver 
sation,  owing,  as  I  supposed  to  his  sense  of  hearing 
being  somewhat  impaired.  I  was  not  then  aware  that 
he  did  not  recognize  the  friend  who  was  with  me ;  and 
was  surprized  to  learn,  the  next  morning,  that  immedi 
ately  after  we  left  him,  he  inquired  who  it  was  that 
called  with  Buckingham. 


BENJAMIN    RUSSELL.  117 

The  progress  of  decay  was  now  daily  perceptible. 
He  had  no  sickness.  He  was  sometimes  a  little  nerv 
ous,  and  would  send  for  the  doctor  ;  but  medical  pre 
scriptions  were  useless,  and  were  seldom  given.  His 
physician  very  frankly  told  his  friends,  —  what,  indeed, 
was  quite  evident  to  them,  —  that  he  could  be  of  no 
service ;  for  the  machine  was  worn  out,  and  there  was 
not  material  enough  left,  to  form  the  basis  of  repairs. 
His  appetite  was  gentle,  and  satisfied  with  small  quanti 
ties  of  the  simplest  food.  The  animal  functions  of 
nature  continued  their  operations  without  artificial  aids. 

In  this  manner  a  month  or  two  passed  away.  On 
the  morning  of  the  fourth  of  January,  1845,  Mr.  Rus 
sell  was  sitting  by  the  fire-side,  and  rose  to  go  to  his  bed. 
He  asked  his  daughter,  who  was  with  him,  what  made 
the  room  look  so  dark.  Perceiving  that  his  eyes  no 
longer  performed  their  office,  she  led  .him  to  the  bed. 
He  lay  down,  and,  in  the  course  of  an  hour,  ceased  to 
breathe.  He  suffered  no  painful  struggle  in  passing 
from  time  to  eternity.  The  transition  from  world  to 
world  was  so  tranquil,  that  the  affectionate  watcher 
noted  not  the  moment  of  change.  The  once  bright  and 
fervid  flame  palely  and  feebly  burned  till  the  oil  was 
consumed,  and  the  vital  spark  went  out. 

Thus  died  Benjamin  Russell,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year 
of  his  age.  His  funeral  was  honored  by  the  attendance  of 
the  members  of  the  Massachusetts  Charitable  Mechanic 
Association,  members  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Freemasons, 
and  a  long  array  of  those  who  had  been  associated  with 
him  in  friendly  and  social  relations.  The  remains  were 
deposited  in  a  tomb  in  the  Old  Granary  Burying 
Ground.  Unbroken  repose  to  his  ashes  !  Unending 
happiness  to  his  soul ! 


THE   SALEM   MERCURY. 


THIS  paper  was  published  by  John  Dabney  and 
Thomas  C.  Gushing,  and  began  with  the  year  1787. 
It  was  printed  weekly  on  Tuesday,  on  a  demy  sheet, 
four  columns  to  a  page,  and  chiefly  on  Long  Primer 
type.  It  was  conducted  with  great  care  as  to  the  selec 
tion  of  authentic  intelligence,  and  was  furnished  with 
communications  from  able  writers.  In  politics,  the  edi 
tors  were  ardent  friends  to  the  Union  of  the  States,  and 
advocates  for  the  Constitution.  On  the  third  of  March, 
1789,  they  gave  expression  to  their  patriotic  feelings, 
after  the  following  fashion :  — 

If  ever  angels  from  the  sky  descend, 
'Twill  be  the  Federal  Structure  to  defend. 

To-morrow,  (the  great,  the  important  day,  big  with  the  fate  of  these 
United  States,)  commences  a  new  era  in  the  politics  of  our  country. 
May  this  auspicious  day  be  ever  sacred  —  no  mourning,  no  misfortune 
happen  on  it !  —  The  day  whereon  convenes  that  august  assembly,  the 
NEW  CONGRESS,  when,  it  is  presumed,  that  every  sincerely  honest  and 
independent  heart,  in  the  Union  bounds  with  joy!  especially  as  the 
prospect  brightens,  of  the  luminary  of  our  hemisphere  presiding  as 
Chief — an  additional  lustre  to  this  truly  magnificent  Body! 

As  great  in  battle,  great  he  is  in  peace ! 

He  comes  again  to  point  our  way  to  fame ; 

The  FEDERAL  PLAN  shall  bid  our  evils  cease, 

And  stamp  Columbia  with  a  lasting  name. 

On  contemplating  our  country,  just  arrived  upon  the  solid  and  uniform 
track  of  regular,  equitable,  and  effectual  government,  after  having  so 
narrowly  escaped  the  dreadful  calamity  of  anarchy  and  disunion ;  while, 


THOMAS    C.    GUSHING.  119 

on  one  hand,  civil  dissension  yawned  for  our  peace  and  safety,  and,  on 
the  other,  foreign  subjugation  watched,  to  devour  all  that  was  valuable  in 
life,  the  present  pleasing  reverse  of  affairs  must  yield  delight  to  every 
beholder.  The  many  happy  effects,  which  will  necessarily  flow  from 
the  motions  of  this  grand  system,  are,  no  doubt,  in  some  measure 
anticipated  in  the  warm  imaginations  of  its  uniform  friends,  who  anx 
iously  look  up  for  the  future  existence  and  weal  of  their  country,  to  the 
united  wisdom  of  the  Fathers  of  the  land,  in  our  Supreme  Legislature, 
most  judiciously  composed  of 

Patriots,  whose  virtues  searching  Time  has  tried ; 
Heroes,  who  fought,  where  brother  heroes  died ; 
Lawyers,  who  speak  as  Tully  spoke  before ; 
Sages,  deep  read  in  philosophic  lore  ; 
Merchants,  whose  plans  are  to  no  realms  confined  ; 
Farmers,  the  noblest  title  to  mankind ; 
Yeoman  and  Tradesmen,  pillars  of  each  state, 
On  whose  decision  hangs  Columbia's  fate. 

May  the  national  blessings  resulting  from  this  political  revolution 
continue,  and  continually  expand,  from  generation  to  generation,  till  the 
last  shock  of  time  buries  the  empires  of  the  world  in  one  undistin 
guished  ruin ! 

The  Mercury  of  October  13,  20,  and  27,  has  no 
publisher's,  editor's,  or  printer's  name  in  the  imprint. 
That  of  the  27th,  contained  an  advertisement,  stating 
that  the  partnership  of  Dabney  &  Gushing  was  dissolved 
on  the  14th;  and  another  stating  that  the  business  was 
to  be  carried  on  by  T.  C.  Gushing. 

In  October  of  this  year,  while  President  Washington 
was  on  his  tour  through  New-England,  he  visited  Salem. 
In  a  long  and  circumstantial  account  of  that  visit,  the 
Mercury  says,  —  "  No  particular  circumstance  of  the 
day  seems  to  have  pleased  more  than  the  plain  and 
hearty  manner  in  which  Mr.  Northey,  the  chairman  of 
the  selectmen,  received  the  President.  This  gentleman 
is  of  the  society  of  Friends ;  and  when  the  President 
was  presented  to  the  selectmen,  Mr.  Northey  took  him 


120  SALEM     GAZETTE. 

by  the  hand,  being  covered,  and  said,  c  Friend  Wash 
ington,  we  are  glad  to  see  thee,  and,  in  behalf  of  the 
inhabitants,  bid  thee  a  hearty  welcome  to  Salem.'  ' 

The  first  paper  issued  by  Gushing  in  1790,  had  for  its 
title  THE  AMERICAN  EAGLE,  and  is  designated,  in  the 
imprint,  as  "  Number  1,  in  1790."  The  next  paper,  is 

entitled 

THE    SALEM   GAZETTE, 

"  Number  2,  in  1790,"  and  this  mode  of  reckoning  was 
continued  through  the  year.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1791,  the  usual  manner  of  computing  the  age  of 
the  publication  was  restored,  and  the  paper  of  January 
4,  is  designated  as  "  Volume  V.  number  221,"  that 
being  the  whole  number  of  weekly  issues  from  the  first 
number  of  the  Mercury.  The  title,  Salem  Gazette,  has 
remained,  without  change,  to  the  present  day,  and  the 
number  of  each  publication  has  proceeded  in  order  from 
the  same  beginning. 

In  the  Gazette  of  October  14,  1794,  "the  Editor 
informs  its  patrons  that  he  relinquishes  the  publication  to 
Mr.  WILLIAM  CARLETON,  who  will  conduct  the  same 
after  this  day He  recollects,  with  sensi 
bility,  the  benefits  he  has  received,  since  he  became  (this 
day  five  years)  the  sole  Editor  of  it ;  and  gratitude 
obliges  him  to  acknowledge,  that,  notwithstanding  the 
disadvantages,  under  which  it  has  been  published,  he 
relinquishes  it  with  an  increase,  double  to  what  it  pos 
sessed  when  he  received  it.  A  more  undivided  attention 
to  it  has  now  become  necessary,  than  he  is  able  to 
bestow ;  and  many  have  thought  it  expedient  that  it 
should  be  made  a  semi-weekly  paper.  He  has  no  doubt 
that  these  deficiencies  will  be  amply  supplied  by  Mr. 


WILLIAM    CARLETON.  121 

Carleton,  and,  in  his  favor,  he  solicits  a  continuance  of 
that  patronage  to  the  Salem  Gazette,  under  which  it  has 
so  long  lived." 

In  assuming  the  editorial  and  publishing  department 
of  the  Gazette,  —  after  the  customary  expressions  of 
deference  and  respect,  — Mr.  Carleton  said  :  — 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  publication,  the  present  Editor  does  not 
expect  its  importance  to  be  increased  from  an  adherence  to  any  parly  ; 
it  is,  on  the  contrary,  his  determination  to  continue  it,  impartial,  inde 
pendent,  and  uninfluenced,  but  by  the  public  good  —  neither  devoting  it 
to  the  cause  of  unfeeling  Aristocracy,  or  employing  it  in  kindling  the 
vindictive  rage  of  Democracy,  or  lighting  the  destructive  torch  of 
Anarchy ;  but  in  endeavoring  to  fix  the  public  eye  on  the  blessings  of  a 
free  government,  constitutional  laws,  and  good  order  in  society.  He  is 
persuaded  that  the  political  transactions  of  the  day  are  what  always 
render  a  Gazette  most  interesting,  and  more  especially  at  a  period  so 
important  as  the  present  —  these  shall  receive  all  the  attention,  which 
the  present  confined  limits  of  the  Gazette  will  admit  —  at  the  same 
time  a  due  regard  shall  be  paid  to  those  more  domestic  concerns,  which, 
though  not  equally  important,  it  may  be  pleasant  and  useful  to  notice, 
and,  on  all  his  youthful  exertions,  he  solicits  the  candor  of  an  indulgent 
public. 

In  the  next  Gazette  we  find  the  commencement  of 
that  long  series  of  articles,  under  the  title  of  "  SUMMARY," 
which  gave  notoriety  to  that  paper  as  long  as  Carleton 
was  its  publisher,  and  afterwards  contributed  still  more 
to  the  fame  of  the  Essex  Register.  These  articles,  — 
a  most  entertaining  composition  of  miscellaneous  ingre 
dients, —  were  prepared  by  the  Rev.  William  Bentley, 
one  of  the  ministers  of  Salem,  an  eminent  scholar,  and 
a  man  of  rather  eccentric  but  unspotted  character. 
Each  of  these  summaries  may  be  considered  as  an  index 
to  all  the  current  news  of  the  period,  which  intervened 
between  the  days  of  publication.  They  extended,  ac 
cording  to  circumstances,  from  half  a  column  to  one  or 
11 


SALEM    GAZETTE. 

two,  and  sometimes  to  three,  columns.  But  no  descrip 
tion  that  I  can  give  will  present  the  character  of  the 
Summary,  so  distinctly  as  that  of  the  writer  himself, 
namely,  —  "  As  a  Summary  is  necessarily  miscellaneous, 
we  must  be  excused,  if  sometimes  we  seem  to  pass  abruptly 
from  one  thing  to  another.  It  is  our  intention  to  mem- 
tion  all  interesting  subjects,  and  in  as  few  words  as  can 
make  them  to  be  understood.  Should  we  collect  things 
of  the  same  nature  together,  without  regard  to  the  places 
in  which  they  happen,  we  should  lose  the  historical  form 
which  the  Gazette  exacts  of  us.  It  is  our  method  to 
introduce  foreign  intelligence  by  the  nation  acting  imme 
diately  the  most  interesting  part  in  foreign  affairs,  and  so 
to  pass  off  from  the  great  action  to  less  important  occur 
rences.  In  our  own  country,  we  begin  at  the  most 
southern  state,  and  so  travel  homewards.  We  intend 
not  needlessly  to  deviate  from  this  practice." 

But  no  adequate  idea  of  these  curious  medleys  can 
be  formed  without  a  specimen;  and  here  is  one,  taken 
at  random :  — 

Reports  now  are  that  the  success  of  Russia  has  emboldened  the  Em 
press,  after  conferring  distinguished  honors  upon  her  General,  to  promise 
a  fleet  and  an  army,  to  be  at  Jersey  and  Guernsey  against  France. 
This  is  in  substance  the  tale  of  last  spring,  but  it  is  not  impossible  that 
it  may  be  realized.  We  have  reason  to  suspect  that  Prussia  will  send 
her  20,000  troops  to  assist  the  Empire  on  their  old  station  of  the  Rhine. 
A  negotiation,  it  is  said,  has  been  checked  between  the  English  and 
the  Royalists  of  La  Vendee,  by  the  Pacific  measures  of  the  French. 
And  we  are  told  that  the  Constitution  of  1791  is  read  freely  by  the 
French  nation.  The  English  are  represented  to  be  suspicious  and  severe 
in  their  measures  with  the  Italian  States  since  their  own  failures  in  the 
Mediterranean.  Robertspierre's  fears  respecting  fanaticism,  it  is  said, 
have  been  justified  by  some  appearances  near  Lyons,  and  the  books  of 
moral  instruction  are  found  to  be  wanting,  which  have  been  promised 
by  the  Convention.  We  are  told  they  begin  to  complain  in  France  in 
want  of  raw  materials  for  their  manufactures.  At  HOME.  The  Lands 


WILLIAM    CARLETON.  123 

proposed  to  be  disposed  of  by  the  State  of  Georgia,  were  to  have  been 
granted  to  four  companies.  To  the  Georgia  company  for  250,000  dol 
lars.  The  Georgia  Mississippi  company  for  155,000  dollars.  To  the 
Upper  Mississippi  company  for  35,000,  and  to  the  Tennessee  company 
for  60,000  dollars.  The  State  was  to  retain  out  of  the  first  grant 
620,000  acres,  out  of  the  2d  138,000,  out  of  the  3d  138,000,  out  of  the  4th 
248,000,  and  50,000  besides  out  of  the  last  grant  for  the  Commissioners. 
A  small  shock  of  an  Earthquake  has  been  felt  in  Virginia.  As  the 
third  Congress  has  closed,  we  shall  have  the  laws  and  proceedings  in 
full  detail  in  the  Gazette.  We  are  happy  to  find  that  Congress  have 
remembered  the  great  services  of  Count  de  Grasse  in  their  generous 
attention  to  his  children,  whom  we  are  happy  to  find  in  this  town,  and 
know  to  be  deserving  of  this  public  gratitude.  Mr.  Gallatin  in  a  long 
and  labored  speech  has  endeavored  to  prove  from  facts  that  the  elections 
in  the  Western  Counties  were  valid,  because  those  counties  could  not 
be  proved  to  have  been  in  a  state  of  insurrection  during  the  late  com 
motions  in  those  parts.  The  Tobacconists  have  presented  a  memorial 
to  Congress,  in  which  they  complain  of  the  Excise,  and  propose  Taxes 
on  real  and  personal  estates  as  to  be  preferred  by  Government.  A  Bill 
has  passed  in  the  Assembly  of  New- York  for  a  new  Census  of  that 
State.  Perhaps  our  information  respecting  the  Democratic  Society  in 
Vermont  was  not  just.  Our  General  Court  has  adjourned.  The  prin 
cipal  Acts  have  been,  to  introduce  the  dollar  and  its  parts  as  money  of 
accounts;  to  appropriate  12,000/.  for  the  payment  of  interest  on  the 
debt  of  the  Commonwealth ;  to  direct  the  payment  of  Costs  in  Criminal 
prosecutions ;  to  establish  a  Nantucket  bank ;  to  assist  Creditors  in  the 
recovery  of  their  just  demands ;  to  explain  the  Militia  Law ;  to  bind 
apprentices  and  minors ;  to  erect  guideposts  on  public  roads ;  and  to 
incorporate  the  proprietors  of  Middlesex  Canal.  Last  week  was  pub 
lished  in  this  town  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Barnard,  a  pertinent  and  excellent 
discourse  delivered  in  the  North  Congregation  on  the  last  Thanksgiving. 
In  the  discourse,  the  Doctor  has  idolized  no  political  theory,  but  has 
justly  applauded  our  own  federal  Government,  and  intimately  associated 
public  happiness  with  public  virtue.  We  subjoin  the  substance  of  his 
observations  at  the  close.  .  .  .  Salem  Gazette,  March  10,  1795. 

In  June,  1796,  the  Gazette  was  published  as  a  semi- 
weekly  paper,  on  Tuesday  and  Friday.  It  is  introduced 
by  a  pretty  long  address,  which  bears  internal  evidence 
that  it  proceeded  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Bentley.  The 
following  is  the  closing  part  of  it :  — 


124  SALEM    GAZETTE. 

We  have  not  seen  without  great  concern  the  abuses  which  have 
attended  the  liberty  of  diffusing  useful  knowledge  by  Gazettes.  The 
privilege  is  inestimable,  but  it  may  become  dangerous  by  faction.  Na 
tions  have  had  just  cause  to  apprehend,  instead  of  the  support  of  liberty, 
the  destruction  of  all  subordination  from  this  engine  of  party.  Instead 
of  the  friend  of  truth  and  knowledge,  it  has  often  been  the  vile  slave  of 
falsehood,  of  slander,  and  guilt.  It  has  not  enlightened  but  deceived 
mankind.  It  has  taught  men  to  hate  their  friends,  and  has  betra}red 
them  to  their  worst  enemies.  While  we  should  behold  with  horror  any 
attempts  against  the  liberty  of  the  Press,  AVC  cannot  refuse  to  view  with 
sincere  complacency  all  attempts  to  prevent  its  abuses.  By  the  wise 
precautions  of  the  English  nation,  it  has  saved  itself  from  destruction. 
The  French  are  now  involved  in  the  evils  they  were  too  willing  to  see 
prevailing  among  their  national  enemies.  They  complain  that  their 
enemies  publish  the  slanders  which  endanger  the  blessings  of  their  rev 
olution.  But  a  licentious  press  is  always  an  enemy  in  the  bosom  of  any 
nation,  and  every  nation  can  supply  base  passions  enough  to  arm  so 
powerful  an  enemy  against  its  tranquility.  We  trust,  then,  we  shall 
feel  no  incentives  to  abuse  the  public  confidence,  and  we  trast  that  our 
correspondents  will  not  be  so  disingenuous  as  to  urge  us  to  any  insults 
to  men  or  measures.  Moral  papers  may  often  find  a  place  in  a  Gazette, 
but  they  more  properly  belong  to  publications  of  a  different  nature. 
Few  men  having  leisure  or  inclination  to  write  for  such  papers  in  this 
rising  country,  little  success  has  attended  the  several  attempts  to  imitate 
the  European  publications  of  this  character.  Some  new  experiments 
are  now  to  be  determined,  but  all  the  Editors  complain  that  they  have 
not  the  encouragement  promised  to  them.  We  have  seen  essays  in  our 
Gazettes  for  moral  purposes.  Many  of  them  have  been  rather  whimsi 
cal  than  interesting.  Nothing  inconsistent  with  the  chastity  of  the 
Spectator  will  in  the  end  be  beneficial  to  the  public  morals.  Men  can 
not  be  incited,  by  a  laugh,  to  practice  duties,  which  belong  only  to  a 
sober  education,  and  to  long  and  careful  habits.  We  shall  be  careful  to 
avoid  religious  papers.  They  tend  to  degrade  the  most  important  sub 
ject  which  can  employ  the  thoughts  of  men.  Devout  thoughts  belong 
to  different  hours  from  those  we  assign  to  the  Gazette  and  to  business. 
And  as  to  religious  controversy,  few  men  understand  it,  and  very  few 
can  manage  it  with  calmness.  And  they,  who  have  ability  to  think 
coolly,  have  better  opportunities  of  communicating  their  thoughts  to 
the  world.  We  shall  keep  ourselves  in  our  proper  character.  We 
shall  reverence  religion  and  the  laws ;  we  shall  blot  out  no  man's  good 
services  by  obloquy ;  and  we  shall  communicate  every  thing  to  the  pub 
lic,  which  has,  in  our  judgment,  truth,  happiness,  usefulness,  or  good 


WILLIAM    CARLETON.  125 

government  as  its  object-  We  shall  be  greatly  obliged  to  all  our  com 
mercial  friends  for  the  best  foreign  news,  and  shall  rejoice  in  the  public 
testimony,  that  we  are  impartial  and  useful,  entertaining  and  innocent. 

The  Gazette  of  September  27,  was  nearly  filled  with 
President  Washington's  Farewell  Address  to  the  People 
of  the  United  States.  The  summary  of  the  next  paper 
closed  as  follows  :  —  "  We  cannot  refuse  to  notice  the 
Address  of  our  worthy  President,  on  account  of  which 
we  relinquished  this  part  of  our  Gazette  in  our  last  pub 
lication.  With  flowing  tears  we  attentively  examine  an 
Address,  which  demands  our  admiration,  while  it  seals 
our  affections.  His  sentiments  will  be  written  on  our 
hearts,  and  live  with  our  prosperity,  from  which  they 
will  ever  be  inseparable.  His  services  will  be  engraven 
on  our  memories,  and  Time  will  report  them  for  the 
gratitude  of  the  most  distant  ages.  The  virtuous  lament 
that  the  wise  are  not  immortal.  There  is  a  struggle  be 
tween  our  duty  to  resign  and  our  inclination  to  retain  the 
Man,  who  is  our  richest  blessing.  May  his  future  days 
be  in  peace,  and  his  reward  from  his  God. 

'  Time,  to  thy  wing,  and  bring  us,  if  you  can, 
'  Midst  all  thy  dead  and  living  store, 
'  To  such  another  man.'  " 

To  this  notice  of  the  retiring  President  may  properly 
be  added  that,  which  introduced  the  first  message  of  Mr. 
Adams,  at  the  commencement  of  an  extra  session  of 
Congress,  soon  after  he  was  inaugurated  as  President,  in 
May,  1799.  Perhaps  no  official  document  was  ever 
more  truly  described  in  the  same  number  of  lines,  than 
was  this  by  Mr.  Bentley :  —  "  We  can  offer  to  the  pub 
lic  the  Address  of  President  Adams  at  the  opening  of 
Congress.  There  is  a  manly  freedom  in  it ;  while  there 
is  a  precision,  which  is  admirable.  He  has  combined 
11  * 


126  SALEM    GAZETTE. 

very  noble  sentiments.  He  awakens  a  sense  of  national 
honor,  while  he  establishes  the  most  deliberate  wisdom. 
He  feels  every  indignity  offered  to  these  States,  while  he 
permits  no  resentment,  unfriendly  to  peace.  He  calls 
for  defence,  while  he  employs  negotiation.  He  demands 
a  policy,  which  has  our  own  prosperity,  and  not  the 
prejudice  of  foreign  nations,  as  its  object.  In  this  criti 
cal  conjuncture,  when  all  eyes  are  turned  towards  him, 
he  has  conciliated  the  affections,  and  possessed  the  con 
fidence  of  the  United  States.  Long  live  the  President." 
The  Gazette  was  conducted  by  Carleton,  till  the  25th 
of  July,  1797.  In  the  paper  of  that  day,  is  the  follow 
ing  notice :  — 

CG?"  The  Customers  of  the  Salem  Gazette  are  respectfully  informed 
that  its  publication  is  resumed  by  THO'S.  C.  GUSHING. 

No  reason  is  assigned  for  either  of  the  changes,  — 
that  from  Gushing  to  Carleton,  in  1794,  or  that  from 
Carleton  to  Gushing,  in  1797.  After  the  last-mentioned 
change,  the  Gazette  had  none  of  Mr.  Bentley's  Sum 
maries.  It  may  be  supposed  that  politics  had  something 
to  do  with  this  last  change.  From  that  time,  the  Ga 
zette  had  more  of  a  partisan  character,  and  that  charac 
ter  was  decidedly  federal.  It  had  previously  been 
neutral.  It  appears,  from  advertisements  in  the  Gazette, 
that  Gushing  &  Carleton  were  partners  in  a  book-selling 
establishment,  while  the  Gazette  was  published  by 
Carleton. 

In  the  autumn  of  1802,  a  severe  political  conflict 
agitated  the  county  of  Essex,  and  produced  in  the  town 
of  Salem  a  deplorable  state  of  feeling.  The  occasion 
of  it  was  the  election  of  representatives  to  Congress. 


THOMAS    C.    GUSHING.  127 

For  that  district,  the  republican  party  nominated  Jacob 
Crowninshield,  an  eminent  merchant  of  Salem  ;  the  fed 
eral  party  nominated  Timothy  Pickering,  who  had  been 
Secretary  of  state  during  a  part  of  Mr.  Adams's  adminis 
tration.  Both  parties  grew  angry,  and  each  assailed  the 
candidate  of  the  other  in  rather  intemperate  language. 

In  the  Gazette  of  November  12,  is  an  address  to  the 
public,  signed  by  the  editor,  which  illustrates  the  angry 
temper,  with  which  this  electioneering  campaign  was 
carried  on.  Mr.  Gushing  states  that  on  the  Saturday 
evening  previous,  two  gentlemen  by  the  name  of  Crown 
inshield  and  Mr.  Joseph  Story,  called  at  his  house  and 
requested  a  private  interview.  Having  been  seated,  he 
was  informed  by  the  gentlemen  that  they  had  come  on 
an  unpleasant  business,  namely,  certain  publications  in 
his  paper,  abusive  of  them  and  their  friends.  Mr.  Story 
complained  that  he  had  been  placed  before  the  public  in 
an  injurious  point  of  view  —  that  he  was  a  young  man, 
come  into  the  town  to  gain  a  livelihood  in  an  honorable 
way  —  that  he  ought  to  receive  countenance  and  pro 
tection  from  the  community  —  that  his  expressing  his 
political  sentiments  with  freedom  was  perfectly  justifiable 
—  that  he  had  no  objection  to  his  arguments  being  fairly 
combated,  but  that  he  would  not  submit  to  be  arraigned 
before  the  public  in  the  manner  he  had  been.  Capt. 
B.  Crowninshield  labored  to  show  that  many  pieces 
published  in  the  Gazette,  had  been  highly  injurious,  and 
that  the  editor  had  been  in  the  practice  of  making  per 
sonal  reflections  against  him  and  his  family.  He  repre 
sented  the  danger  to  which  he  (Cushing)  exposed  him 
self  by  these  means.  After  alluding  to  sundry  circum 
stances  of  a  threatening  character,  he  concluded  by 


128  SALEM    GAZETTE. 

saying  that  if  he  (Gushing)  continued  to  publish  such 
things  as  they  had  complained  of,  he  would  shoot  him 
in  the  dark  if  he  could  not  do  it  in  the  day  time.  Gush 
ing  states  that  his  reply  was  of  the  following  tenor :  — 

That  it  was  my  desire,  and  had  been  my  uniform  endeavor  to  keep 
my  paper  free  from  undue  personalities  —  that  I  considered  public 
characters  and  public  conduct  as  proper  subjects  of  animadversion  — 
that  such  was  the  present  state  of  parties,  and  irritation  of  the  public 
mind,  that  possibly  (for  I  would  not  be  my  own  judge)  I  might  have 
admitted  expressions  not  strictly  within  the  bounds  prescribed  to  myself 
—  that  I  could  not  say  how  I  should  conduct  my  paper  in  future,  but 
should  still  be  governed  by  the  same  regard  to  decency,  and  endeavor 
to  give  no  just  cause  of  offence  —  that  threats,  however,  would  have  no 
effect  upon  me  in  that  respect,  but  if  they  meant  to  address  my  reason 
and  sense  of  propriety,  on  that  ground  I  was  willing  to  hear  them. 
With  respect  to  the  asperity  of  language  used  in  my  paper,  I  observed, 
if  there  had  been  such,  it  was  excited  by  that  of  the  opposite  paper  — 
that  the  candidates  for  office  in  my  paper  against  Capt.  Jacob  Crown- 
inshield  had  been  treated  with  a  degree  of  indelicacy  and  abuse  in  the 
Register,  which  had  not  been  exercised  in  return  against  him.  I  told 
them  that  it  had  been  impossible  for  me,  from  appearances,  not  to  view 
them  in  connection  with  the  paper  in  which  these  things  appeared. 
Here  they  disavowed  all  connection  with  the  Register,  otherwise  than 
that  of  being  its  customers,  except  that  Mr.  Story  acknowledged  him 
self  to  be  one  of  its  writers.  They  observed  at  length,  that,  as  to  what 
was  past,  they  had  no  more  to  say ;  their  only  object  was,  that  I  should 
refrain  in  future  from  personalities  towards  them  and  their  friends. 
They  left  it  to  me  to  divulge  the  meeting  or  not,  as  I  pleased ;  it  would 
not  be  done  by  them.  I  informed  them  that  I  felt  a  disposition  not  to 
make  it  known. 

The  earnestness  and  loudness  with  which  the  conver 
sation  was  begun,  and  the  kind  of  language  made  use 
of,  alarmed  the  females  of  Cushing's  family,  and  they 
immediately  called  in  some  of  the  young  men  who  were 
in  his  employ ;  so  that  there  were  assembled  in  an  ad 
joining  room,  without  his  knowledge,  quite  a  number  of 
young  men  and  lads.  This  was  the  means  of  the  meet 
ing  being  almost  instantly  known  abroad,  and  the  most 


THOMAS    C.    GUSHING.  129 

prominent  parts  of  the  conversation,  particularly  the 
threat  to  shoot  him,  were  immediately  reported.  A  day 
or  two  after,  many  pressing  requests  were  made  to  Gush 
ing,  that  he  should  lay  an  account  of  the  affair  and  a 
report  of  the  conversation  before  the  people,  who  con 
sidered  the  threats,  as  they  had  been  rumored,  not  merely 
as  personal  to  himself,  but  seriously  concerning  the  whole 
community. 

Other  political  topics  were  discussed  in  the  Gazette 
with  great  freedom.  One  of  these  topics,  was  the  invi 
tation  given  by  President  Jefferson  to  Thomas  Paine,  to 
revisit  the  United  States,  and  his  offer  of  a  national  ves 
sel  to  convey  that  somewhat  celebrated  personage  to  our 
shores.  Paine  accepted  the  invitation,  and  while  the 
guest  of  the  President,  wrote  a  series  of  letters  to  the 
people,  which  were  published  in  the  National  Intelli 
gencer.  The  comments  on  these  matters  in  the  federal 
papers  were  numerous  and  severe,  and  the  Gazette  was 
not  behind  its  cotemporaries,  either  in  the  number  or 
severity  of  its  remarks.  Those  remarks  were  highly 
seasoned  with  sarcasm,  ridicule,  and  sober  invective. 

In  the  latter  part  of  December  of  this  year,  the  editor 
begged  leave  to  inform  his  customers,  that  the  disadvan 
tages,  under  which  he  had,  for  a  long  time  supported  it> 
had,  at  length,  reduced  it  to  a  point  of  depression,  which 
made  it  necessary  for  him  either  to  renounce  it  entirely 
and  turn  his  attention  wholly  to  more  promising  pursuits, 
or  to  make  some  new  arrangements  for  prolonging  its 
existence.  He  said  he  should  attempt  the  latter,  and 
he  proposed  certain  alterations  in  the  terms  of  advertis 
ing,  the  subscription  price  of  the  paper,  &c.  The 
attempt  is  presumed  to  have  been  successful,  for  the 


130  SALEM    GAZETTE. 

publication  was  continued,  and,  no  doubt,  with  profit  to 
the  proprietor  as  it  was  with  advantage  to  the  public. 

The  two  great  causes  of  public  agitation,  and  personal 
anger  and  resentment,  which  marked  the  early  years  of 
the  present  century,  —  the  Embargo  of  1807  and  the 
War  of  1812,  —  operated  with  more  violence  in  Salem 
than  in  any  other  town  in  New-England.  It  was  said, 
—  and,  probably,  with  truth,  —  that  some  of  the  fiercest 
politicians  went  about  the  streets,  armed,  either  to  com 
mit  or  to  repel  personal  assault.  The  Salem  Gazette 
took  a  high  and  fearless  stand  against  the  measures  of 
the  administration,  and  the  Essex  Register  was  no  less 
resolute  in  defending  them.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find 
a  newspaper  war  conducted  with  so  much  ferocity  as 
that,  which  was  carried  on  for  several  years  between 
these  two  papers.  A  few  extracts,  taken  almost  at  ran 
dom,  and  from  one  or  two  volumes  only  of  the  Gazette, 
will  illustrate  the  style  and  temper  of  the  editor  and  his 
correspondents  during  this  period  :  — 

The  accounts  from  Washington  are  daily  more  and  more  alarming. 
Our  fears  and  dangers  are  not  from  foreign  powers  —  them  we  could 
resist  —  but  from  the  madness  of  our  own  government,  who  seem  de 
termined  to  go  on  hand  in  hand  with  Bonaparte,  and  bring  this  conti 
nent  into  the  same  state  to  which  he  has  reduced  that  of  Europe.  The 
Non- Intercourse  is  to  be  renewed,  and  enforced  if  necessary  with  land  and 
sea  forces,  and  the  Bank  of  the  United  States  to  be  annihilated.  All  im 
porters,  whose  goods  shall  arrive,  will  not  only  suffer  the  forfeiture  of  their 
property,  but  heavy  fines  in  addition.  These  measures  combined  will 
nearly  put  an  end  to  commerce,  and  ruin  all  the  mercantile  class,  except 
those  whose  wealth  secures  them  from  their  effects.  Beggary  and  mis 
ery  will  spread  through  our  towns  —  the  spirit  of  the  people  will  be 
broken  down — and  their  necks  bent  to  any  yoke  that  is  prepared  for 
them.  They  submitted  to  the  embargo  and  all  its  horrors ;  they  will 
as  tamely  submit  to  their  renewal.  And  for  what  purpose  is  all  this 
evil  to  be  accumulated  upon  us  ?  Can  any  other  reason  be  given  for  it, 
than  that  it  is  the  will  and  order  of  Bonaparte  ?  January  25, 1811. 


THOMAS    C.    CUSHING.  131 

The  Toasts  of  the  Southern  Democrats  are  very  amusing  both  for 
the  matter  and  manner.  A  friend  of  Col.  Duane,  gave  the  following :  — 

""WILLIAM  DUANE  —  The  sheet  anchor  of  democracy  —  as  able  as 
he  is  incorruptible,  and  as  true  to  principle  as  the  needle  to  the  Pole." 

Now  we  think  this  allusion  to  the  "Pole"  must  hurt  the  "worthy 
man  Duane's  "  honorable  feelings,  as  it  is  said  that  once  on  a  time  when 
he  lived  at  Calcutta,  he  was  for  none  of  his  good  deeds  sentenced  to  be 
carried  astride  on  a  Pole;  whence  he  has  long  been  known  by  the 
appellation  of  Straddlepolitan.  It  must  be  admitted  that  he  is  a  man  of 
extensive  views,  for  he  has  been  able  to  see  from  Pole  to  Pole. 

July  19,  1811. 

The  Governor  and  Council  have  separated  and  returned  home  with 
malignant  hearts  and  bloody  hands.  Unrelenting  intolerance  is  not  yet 
fated,  and  shameless  usurpation  has  not  yet  had  its  perfect  work.  After 
a  long  and  agonizing  struggle,  the  Jacobinic  conspirators  against  the 
principles  of  pure  republicanism  have  vanquished  the  conscience  of  the 
Governor,  and  he  now  ranks,  not  as  the  Chief  of  a  Republic,  but  as  the 
Rolando  of  a  ferocious  gang.  What  being  is  more  deserving  of  heart 
felt  commiseration,  than  a  man  wedded  and  chained  to  iniquity,  and  at 
the  same  time  sufficiently  sensible  to  perceive  the  gnawings  of  the  worm 
of  conscience !  It  is  said  that  even  Caligula  trembled  when  it  thun 
dered  ;  and  the  ghastly  visages  of  his  Excellency  and  his  Honor  testify 
that  their  souls  are  as  unquiet  as  that  of  Herod.  October  25,  1811. 

HERCULEAN  TASK.  By  recent  intelligence  from  Washington  it  ap 
pears  that  the  new  Speaker  has  laudably  undertaken  to  preserve  order 
in  Congress  Hall,  and  to  keep  the  members  all  awake.  Vain  attempt ! 
It  is  equal  to  the  labor  of  Hercules  in  cutting  off  the  fifty  heads  of  the 
Hydra.  If  he  succeeds  in  keeping  a  hundred  democratic  members 
awake,  he  will  richly  merit  the  appellation  of  a  rousing  Speaker.  For 
ten  years  the  majority  in  Congress  has  been  asleep  to  the  honor  and 
interest  of  their  country,  and  their  measures  have  been  like  the  troubled 
dreams  of  a  sick  man.  Many  of  the  members  are  sleepwalkers,  and 
others  are  sleeptalkers,  such  as  Father  SMILIE,  and  RHEA  of  Tennessee, 
commonly  called  the  Spinningwheel,  who  will  whisper  like  a  grove,  and 
purr  a  lullaby,  that  like  a  powerful  anodyne  will  lock  in  the  arms  of 
slumber  more  of  the  watchful  guardians  of  the  public  weal,  than  the 
Speaker  and  Sergeant  at  Arms,  when  they  wish  to  count  the  eyes  and 
noses  upon  a  question,  can  awaken  in  an  hour.  While  MACON  and 
VARNUM  were  Speakers,  the  Hall  of  Congress  was  a  most  tranquil 
and  quiet  dormitory;  sometimes,  indeed,  RANDOLPH,  QUINCY  and 
GARDINIER  alarmed  the  slumberers,  and  broke  them  of  their  rest.  The 


132  SALEM    GAZETTE. 

sleepers  always  admired  VARNUM,  because  he  is  a  sleepy  looking  man, 
the  very  image  of  Morpheus ;  those  who  wished  to  enjoy  a  nap  or  siesta, 
would  look  to  him,  and  in  five  minutes  their  eyelids  would  fall  like  trap 
doors,  and  in  ten  minutes  they  would  snore.  Sometimes  the  variety  of 
nasal  twangs  produced  a  concert  as  entertaining  as  that  of  the  Panhar- 
monican.  On  such  occasions  the  members  to  a  cursory  observer  ap 
peared  most  wise  and  cogitating,  so  that  a  stranger  would  have  thought 
that  the  Bird  of  Wisdom  ought  to  have  been  emblazoned  behind  the 
Speaker's  chair  as  the  national  arms,  instead  of  the  royal  Eagle  "  that 
bolts  its  cloudless  thunder  "  on  the  heads  of  our  foes.  On  some  impor- 
tant  occasions,  when  the  majority  has  been  determined  to  carry  a  favor 
ite  and  contested  point,  they  have  appeared  in  the  Congress  Hall  equip 
ped  for  a  night  session,  with  a  night  cap,  blanket  and  pillow,  resolved 
to  sleep  away  the  eloquence  and  arguments  of  the  friends  of  their  coun 
try.  During  the  debate,  and  until  the  question  is  called,  they  slumber 
upon  the  floor ;  and  hence  it  is  said  that  the  honorable  Mr.  Such-a-one 
kept  possession  of  the  floor  for  a  number  of  hours.  A  bird's  eye  view  of 
the  assembled  sleeping  sages  of  this  happy  land  reminds  the  spectator 
of  the  lines  of  the  poet :  — 

In  eldest  time,  ere  mortals  writ  or  read, 
Ere  Pallas  issu'd  from  the  Thunderer's  head, 
Dulness  o'er  all  possess'd  her  ancient  right, 
Daughter  of  Chaos  and  eternal  Night. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  the  most  odious  measures  of  democracy 
in  Congress,  such  as  the  Forcing  Act,  Non-importation  Act,  &c.  have 
been  prepared  at  midnight,  with  no  other  light  than  the  glare  of  a  taper. 
Light  is  emblematical  of  purity  and  innocence,  and  is  naturally  repug 
nant  to  vice :  hence  profligates  and  bravoes,  who  harbor  dark  souls  and 
foul  thoughts,  shun  the  light  of  the  sun,  and  seek  the  broad  mantle  of 
darkness  as  a  cover  for  their  shameless  enormities.  The  most  hardened 
assassin,  who  in  the  silence  of  night  commits  deeds  the  most  heinous 
with  a  firm  and  unerring  hand,  will  blink  and  hang  his  head  on  the 
appearance  of  odious  light :  — 

'Tis  now  the  very  witching  time  of  night, 

When  church  yards  yawn,  and  hell  itself  breathes  out 

Contagion  to  this  world  :  — 

Now  could  I  drink  hot  blood,  and  do  such  bitter  deeds 

As  the  day  would  blush  to  look  upon. 

If  a  stranger  should  by  chance  view  our  democratic  Congress,  hold 
ing  the  orgies  of  a  nocturnal  debate,  and  arrayed  in  the  habiliments  of 
the  bed,  he  would  fear  that  the  troubled  Spirits  of  our  Fathers  had 
started  from  their  tombs  to  reproach  and  rebuke  their  degenerate  sons 


THOMAS    C.    GUSHING.  133 

for  the  disgrace  and  disasters  which  have  been  brought  upon  their  ill 
fated  country. 

The  astonished  beholder,  affrighted  and  petrified  by  the  strange  sight 
of  such  portentous  spectres,  would  naturally  exclaim, 

Angels  and  ministers  of  grace,  defend  us ! 

Art  thou  a  spirit  of  health,  or  goblin  damn'd ! 

Bring'st  with  thee  airs  from  heaven,  or  blasts  from  hell ! 

November  29,  1811. 

Signior  ABRAMO  ALBERTO  GALLITINI,  it  is  now  ascertained,  is 
appointed  Ambassador  to  negotiate  a  Peace.  This  gentleman  is  of 
foreign  extraction,  — came  to  our  shores  about  30  years  ago,  — taught 
our  citizens  the  French  tongue,  and  the  French  doctrines  of  the  "  holy 
right  of  insurrection,"  —  was  pardoned  by  Gen.  Washington,  —  has  had 
the  care  of  the  surpluses  of  the  Revenue,  which  Jefferson  thought 
ought  not  to  be  unproductive  in  the  public  vaults,  exciting  the  cupidity 
of  nations,  —  and  has  accumulated  a  princely  fortune  from  his  liberal 
salary  and  by  other  thrifty  means  in  which  foreigners  generally  excel. 
The  jealous  Potentates  of  Europe  place  around  their  persons  a  corps  of 
foreign  mercenary  troops  on  whose  subserviency  and  fidelity  they  may 
confidently  rely ;  —  Bonaparte  has  his  Mamelukes,  and  the  Grand  Sul 
tan  his  Janizaries ;  so  our  democratic  Presidents  have  had  their  Swiss 
and  Walloon  Guards  —  trusty  and  secret  men  who  never  flinch  like 
native  citizens  ;  —  they  can  coolly  talk  of  "  Confiscation  "  and  handle 
Hemp  "  as  familiar  as  their  garter ; "  Col.  Binns  the  Irishman  can 
deride  New  England  as  "  the  land  of  Codfish  and  Onions,"  —  Col. 
Duane  scoffs  our  merchants  "as  the  worthless  part  of  the  commu 
nity,"  —  and  Gales,  Baptiste  Irvine,  Anthony  Campbell,  Pechin, 
Colonel  Gray,  Colonel  De  Lacroix  and  others  are  the  soldiers  of  for 
tune,  and  patriotic  Volunteers  who  are  to  defend  Government  from  the 
people,  and  compel  native  citizens  to  feel  how  great  a  misfortune  it  was 
to  be  born  in  their  native  land. 

Since  it  is  a  fact,  that  native  born  citizens  are  excluded  from  office 
and  honor,  and  this  War  is  a  Foreign  War  on  account  of  Foreigners 
only,  no  man  certainly  can  be  so  well  qualified  to  treat  about  these  for 
eign  affairs  as  Mons.  Gallitini.  April  10,  1813. 

THE  "THREE  ALTERNATIVES,"  —  Embargo,  Submission  and  War! 
The  American  people  are  now  afflicted  and  scourged  with  a  compli 
cation  of  all  the  calamities  and  miseries  within  the  power  of  their 
rulers  to  inflict.  The  morrow's  sun  will  complete  the  period  of  SIX 
long  and  miserable  years,  since  the  evil  minds  of  our  oppressors  doomed 
this  nation  to  be  plunged  from  the  height  of  prosperity  and  peace  into 
12 


134  SALEM    GAZETTE. 

the  bottomless  pit  of  "  Restrictive  Energies,  —  into  Embargoes  — Non- 
Intercourse,  and  the  Continental  System !  Six  gloomy  years  have 
elapsed  since  we  enjoyed  liberty  and  the  rights  of  Ereemen.  —  We  have 
been  imprisoned  within  our  own  territory,  and  our  rulers  have  been  our 
prison-keepers.  Oppression  has  followed  oppression ;  still  hope  sus 
tained  our  sinking  hearts ;  but  hope  has  failed,  and  we  have  nothing 
left  but  despair ! 

When  our  rulers  formerly  talked  of  the  "  alternatives  "  of  Embargo, 
Submission  or  War,  we  did  hope  the  nation  would  not  be  compelled  to 
groan  under  the  miseries  of  more  than  one  of  these  burthens  at  a  time. 
Experience,  however,  teaches  us  the  absurdity  of  their  measures,  as 
well  as  the  solecism  of  their  language.  Embargo,  Submission  and 
War  are  the  only  three  signs  in  the  political  zodiac  of  our  present 
rulers ;  and  in  one  of  these  signs  the  nation  has  constantly  been  com 
pelled  to  revolve ;  till  at  length,  to  fill  up  the  measure  of  our  sufferings, 
the  cabinet  has  forced  us  —  all  at  the  same  time — into  WAR  with 
England  —  SUBMISSION  to  France  —  and  now,  as  we  fear,  EMBAKGO 
with  all  the  world !  Thus,  in  consummation  of  all  the  projects  of  our 
democratic  rulers,  the  nation  is  prostrate  on  its  back,  like  the  fabled 
giant  Tityus,  whose  huge  body  covering  nine  acres  of  ground  was 
chained  to  the  earth,  while  vultures  rested  on  his  breast  and  mangled 
and  feasted  and  revelled  on  his  ever-growing  vitals,  —  so  is  this  nation 
chained  by  Embargoes,  and  devoured  by  the  vulture,  War. 

December  21,  1813. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1822,  Mr.  Gushing  took 
leave  of  his  friends  and  the  public  as  an  editor  in  the 
following  notice :  — 

The  subscriber  having  relinquished  the  establishment  of  the  Salem 
Gazette  to  Messrs.  Caleb  Gushing  and  Eerdinand  Andrews,  he  takes 
this  opportunity  of  bidding  adieu  to  his  respected  customers  and 
patrons,  as  its  editor.  In  the  long  course  of  years,  in  which  he  has 
stood  before  them  in  that  capacity,  he  has  experienced  from  them  a 
constant  stream  of  kindness,  a  cooperation  and  support,  that  have  ani 
mated  and  encouraged  him  in  his  labors,  which  he  hopes  and  trusts 
have  been  in  some  degree  useful ;  while  their  candor  and  charity  have 
covered  a  multitude  of  defects,  of  which  he  is  deeply  sensible.  In 
turning  over  the  list  of  his  subscribers,  he  perceives  many  respectable 
names,  which  have  stood  there  from  his  commencement  in  1787  to  the 
present  time.  It  is  not  easy  for  him  to  express  the  gratitude  he  feels 
for  favor  so  steady  and  persevering,  and  for  a  thousand  distinct  and 
various  obligations  from  individuals,  which  he  could  specify,  were  it 


THOMAS    C.    GUSHING.  135 

proper :  he  begs  his  friends  to  give  him  credit  for  all  that  he  ought  to 
say  on  this  parting  occasion ;  and  to  accept  of  his  best  wishes,  that  the 
opening  year  may  smile  upon  them,  and  redouble  upon  their  own  heads 
the  blessings  they  have  communicated  to  others. 

THOMAS  C.  GUSHING. 

Mr.  Gushing  died  on  the  28th  of  September,  1824, 
at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  He  was  a  native  of  Hing- 
ham,  in  the  county  of  Plymouth,  and  began  his  pro 
fession,  as  an  apprentice  with  Samuel  Hall.  Under 
the  instruction  of  a  master,  whose  sound  judgement 
and  liberal  feelings  had  led  him  to  espouse  the  Amer 
ican  cause,  and  whose  ability  in  his  profession  had  given 
him  a  high  rank  among  his  brethren,  Mr.  Gushing, 
with  talents  of  no  ordinary  cast,  had  imbibed  those 
principles  and  laid  the  foundation  of  that  rank,  which  he 
maintained  both  in  his  professional  character  and  as  an 
estimable  member  of  society.  Upon  the  expiration  of 
his  apprenticeship,  he  began  a  paper  in  Charlestown, 
under  the  title  of  the  American  Recorder,  but  soon  after 
removed  to  Salem,  and  began  the  Mercury,  in  connec 
tion  with  John  Dabney,  as  has  been  already  stated.  He 
continued  to  be  the  editor  of  the  Salem  Gazette,  from 
the  day  that  he  resumed  it  in  July,  1797,  till  about  two 
years  before  his  death,  when  infirm  health  obliged  him  to 
relinquish  the  publication.  He  conducted  the  paper 
with  well  known  ability,  and  with  a  steadfast  and  con 
scientious  adherence  to  the  political  principles  inculcated 
by  his  master.  The  qualities  of  his  heart  were  not  less 
amiable  than  the  faculties  of  his  mind  were  respectable. 
His  bosom  was  the  seat  of  all  the  gentle  virtues;  his  be 
nevolence  was  unwearied;  his  friendship  disinterested, 
ardent,  and  sincere ;  and  his  integrity  steadfast,  incor 
ruptible,  and  unsuspected.  In  his  domestic  relations  he 


136  SALEM    GAZETTE. 

was  a  bright  example  of  conjugal  attachment  and 
parental  tenderness.  His  death  was  a  distressing  calam 
ity  to  his  family  and  a  severe  affliction  to  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintance.* 

Caleb,  the  son  of  Thomas  C.  Gushing,  was  connected 
with  the  Gazette  only  a  few  months.  The  paper  was 
conducted  by  Ferdinand  Andrews,  till  some  time  in 
1827,  when  he  sold  his  interest  in  it  to  Caleb  Foote, 
and  removed  to  Lancaster,  in  the  county  of  Worcester, 
and  published  a  paper  there  for  several  years.  The 
Salem  Gazette,  now  the  oldest  paper  in  Massachusetts, 
except  the  Massachusetts  Spy,  is  still  in  the  possession 
of  Caleb  Foote,  editor  and  proprietor.  It  is  a  highly 
respectable  and  influential  paper,  and  circulates  exten 
sively  in  the  county  of  Essex.  When  Federalism  went 
out  of  fashion,  it  naturally  became  Whig  in  its  politics, 
and  has  held  fast  to  the  faith  of  its  original  editor  and 
proprietor. 

*  See  Salem  Gazette,  October  1, 1824. 


THE  NATIONAL  GAZETTE. 


IN  October,  1791,  PHILIP  FRENEAU,  a  clerk  in  the 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  began,  in  Philadelphia, 
the  publication  of  a  paper  called  the  National  Gazette. 
Mr.  Jefferson  was  then  at  the  head  of  the  State  Depart 
ment,  and  it  was  supposed,  —  probably  not  without  rea 
son,  —  that  the  paper  received  its  political  complexion 
from  his  influence  and  dictation.  Certain  it  is  that  the 
paper  was  devoted  to  the  dissemination  and  defence  of 
his  peculiar  notions  and  wishes  respecting  the  adminis 
tration  of  public  affairs.  It  is  well  known  that  Mr. 
Jefferson  was  strongly  opposed  to  all  the  principles  and 
measures  of  Mr.  Hamilton,  the  Secretary  of  the  treas 
ury  ;  and  the  National  Gazette  was  the  principal  chan 
nel,  through  which  all  the  opponents  of  the  "  funding 
system"  poured  forth  their  clamor  and  vituperation. 
John  Adams,  also,  the  Vice-President,  had  a  share  of 
the  reproaches,  that  were  liberally  cast  upon  most  of  the 
principal  Federalists  who  had  any  concern  with  the  gov 
ernment.  Nor  did  Washington  himself  entirely  escape, 
though  the  attacks  upon  him  were  rather  indirect.  The 
Jacobin  societies  throughout  the  Union  were  upheld,  and 
defended  against  the  opposition  of  the  Federalists,  and 
all  the  proceedings  of  the  French  revolutionists  were  ap 
proved  and  commended.  The  leading  Federalists  were 
12* 


138  NATIONAL    GAZETTE. 

charged  with  treason  to  liberty,  adherence  to  England, 
affection  for  monarchical  government,  and  for  aristo 
cratic  distinctions  of  nobility.  If  evidence  of  this  be 
required,  take  the  following  paragraph,  published  a  few 
days  after  the  election  of  President  and  Vice-President, 
in  December,  1792  :  — 

The  mask  is  at  last  torn  from  the  monarchical  party,  who  have,  but 
with  too  much  success,  imposed  themselves  upon  the  public  for  the  sin 
cere  friends  of  our  republican  constitution.  Whatever  may  be  the 
event  of  the  competition  for  the  Vice-Presidency,  it  has  been  the  happy 
occasion  of  ascertaining  the  two  following  important  truths :  —  first,  that 
the  name  of  Federalist  has  been  assumed  by  men  who  approve  the  con 
stitution  merely  as  "  a  promising  essay  towards  a  well-ordered  govern 
ment  ; "  that  is  to  say,  as  a  step  towards  a  government  of  kings,  lords, 
and  commons.  Secondly,  that  the  spirit  of  the  people  continues  firmly 
republican,  and  if  the  monarchical  features  of  the  party  had  been  sooner 
held  up  to  the  public  view,  would  have  universally  marked  the  division 
between  two  candidates  (equally  unassailed  in  their  private  characters) 
one  of  whom  is  as  much  attached  to  the  equal  principles  of  liberty 
entertained  by  the  great  mass  of  his  fellow-citizens,  as  the  other  is 
devoted  to  the  hereditary  titles,  orders,  and  balances,  which  they  abhor 
as  an  insult  to  the  rights  and  dignity  of  man. 

The  two  candidates  referred  to  were  John  Adams  of 
Massachusetts,  and  George  Clinton  of  New  York. 

The  publication  of  a  series  of  "  Probationary  Odes  " 
was  begun  about  the  first  of  June,  1793,  (and  run  to 
twelve  or  fifteen  numbers)  "  by  Jonathan  Pindar,  Esq., 
a  cousin  of  Peter's,  and  candidate  for  the  post  of  Poet- 
Laureat."  They  were  probably  written  by  Freneau, 
who,  though  he  had  no  great  poetical  genius,  was  a 
fluent  and  rapid  versifier.  These  Odes  are  chiefly  lam 
poons  on  the  principal  officers  of  the  administration  and 
leading  men  in  the  government,  —  Adams,  the  Vice- 
President —  Knox,  Secretary  of  war  —  Hamilton,  Sec 
retary  of  the  treasury,  &c.  The  first  is  addressed  "  To 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  139 

all  the  Great  Folks  in  a  lump  ;  "  the  second  "  To  Atlas," 
meaning  Mr.  Hamilton  ;  the  third  "  To  a  Select  Body 
of  Great  Men,"  meaning  the  Senate,  &c.  The  fourth, 
which  here  follows,  needs  no  explanation  :  — 

TO    A    WOULD-BE    GREAT    MAN. 

Jonathan  defendeth  the  GREAT  DEFENDER  ;  magnifieth  and  exalteth 
his  works;  and  confesseth  his  own  littleness  of  understanding. 

"  Certat  tergeminis  tollere  honoribus"     Hor. 

Daddy  Vice,  Daddy  Vice, 

One  may  see  in  a  trice 
The  drift  of  your  fine  publication ; 

As  sure  as  a  gun, 

The  thing  was  just  done, 
To  secure  you  —  a  pretty  HIGH  station. 

Defences  you  call 

To  knock  down  our  wall, 
Arid  batter  the  STATES  to  the  ground,  sir ; 

So  thick  were  your  shot, 

And  so  hellish  fire-hot, 
They  've  scarce  a  whole  bone  to  be  found,  sir  — 

When  you  tell  us  of  kinys, 

And  such  pretty  things, 
Good  mei'cy  !  how  brilliant  your  page  is ! 

So  bright  in  each  line 

I  vow  now  you  '11  shine 
Like  —  a  glow-worm  to  all  future  ages. 

When  you  handle  your  balance, 

So  vast  are  your  talents, 
Like  Atlas  your  wonderful  strength  is  ; 

You  know  every  State 

To  a  barley-corn  weight, 
For  your  steel-yard  the  continent  length  is. 

On  Davila's  page 

Your  discourses  so  sage 
Democratical  numsculls  bepuzzle, 

With  arguments  tough 

As  white  leather  or  buff, 
The  republican  BULL-DOGS  to  muzzle. 


140  NATIONAL     GAZETTE. 

'T  is  labor  in  vain, 

Your  senses  to  strain 
Our  brains  any  longer  to  muddle ; 

Like  Colossus  you  stride 

O'er  our  noddles  so  wide, 
"We  look  up  like  FROGS  IN  A  PUDDLE. 

The  next  Ode  indicates  a  wish  but  a  lack  of  courage 
to  be  severe  on  Washington  :  — 

TO   A   TRULY    GREAT   MAN. 

"  Justum  et  tenacem  propositi  virum"     Hor. 
George,  on  thy  virtues  often  have  I  dwelt ; 

And  still  the  theme  is  grateful  to  mine  ear ; 
Thy  gold  let  chemists  ten  times  over  melt, 

From  dross  and  base  alloy  they  '11  find  it  clear. 

Yet  thou  'rt  a  man —  although,  perhaps,  the  first ; 

But  man  at  best  is  but  a  being  frail ; 
And  since  with  error  human  nature  's  curst, 

I  marvel  not  that  thou  shouldst  sometimes  fail. 

That  thou  hast  long  and  nobly  served  the  state, 
The  nation  owns,  and  freely  gives  thee  thanks  : 

But  Sir !  —  whatever  speculators  prate, 

She  gave  thee  not  the  power  to  establish  BANKS. 

No  doubt  thou  thought  'st  it  was  a  phenix  nest, 
Which  Congress  were  so  busy  to  build  up : 

But  there  a  crocodile  had  fixed  his  rest, 
And  snapped  the  nations  bowels  at  a  sup. 

The  greedy  monster  is  not  yet  half  cloyed, 

Nor  will  be,  whilst  a  leg  or  arm  remains ; 
Those  parts  the  last  of  all  should  be  destroyed ; 

The  next  delicious  morsel  is  her  brains. 

I  trust  thou  'st  seen  the  monster  by  this  time, 
And  hast  prepared  thy  knife  to  cut  his  throat ; 

His  scales  are  so  damned  hard,  that  in  thy  prime, 
'T would  take  thee  twenty  years  to  make  it  out. 

God  grant  thee  life  to  do  it:  —  Fare  thee  well ! 

Another  time  examine  well  the  nest ; 
Though  of  Arabia's  spices  it  should  smell, 

It  may  produce  some  foul  internal  pest. 


PHILIP     FRENEAU.  141 

In  April,  1793,  the  President  issued  his  Proclamation, 
recommending  the  observation  of  strict  neutrality  to 
wards  all  the  belligerent  powers  of  Europe.  This  was 
the  signal  of  a  powerful  attack  from  all  who  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  French  revolutionists.  The  Gazette 
was  the  principal  channel,  through  which  their  vitupera 
tion  reached  the  people.  A  number  of  writers  assailed 
the  President  and  his  policy  in  terms  of  unmeasured 
invective.  Some  of  these  communications  were  written 
with  ability,  and  were  as  ably  replied  to,  in  the  Gazette, 
and  other  papers,  which  assumed  the  defence  of  the 
President,  and  undertook  the  task  of  refuting  the  argu 
ments  of  his  assailants.  "  Veritas  "  addressed  "  To  the 
President  of  the  United  States  "  a  series  of  letters,  in 
which  it  was  contended  that  the  Proclamation  was  not 
consistent  either  with  duty  or  interest  —  that  neutrality 
was  ingratitude  to  France  —  that  it  would  provoke  the 
French  nation  to  hostilities  —  that  it  was  issued  in  oppo 
sition  to  the  general  sentiment  of  the  people  and  the 
will  of  the  nation  —  and  insinuated,  pretty  directly,  that 
the  President  was  under  the  influence  of  British  emis 
saries.  The  following  detached  paragraphs  exhibit  some 
of  the  innuendoes,  with  which  "  Veritas  "  enriched  his 
letters :  — 

I  am  aware,  Sir,  that  some  court  satellites  may  have  deceived  you 
with  respect  to  the  sentiments  of  your  fellow-citizens.  The  first  magis 
trate  of  a  country,  whether  he  be  called  a  king  or  a  president,  seldom 
knows  the  real  state  of  the  nation,  particularly  if  he  be  so  much  buoyed 
up  by  official  importance,  as  to  think  it  beneath  his  dignity  to  mix  occa 
sionally  with  the  people.  Let  me  caution  you,  Sir,  to  beware  that  you 
do  not  view  the  state  of  the  public  mind,  at  this  critical  moment, 
through  a  fallacious  medium.  Let  not  the  little  buzz  of  the  aristocratic 
few,  and  their  contemptible  minions,  of  speculators,  tories,  and  British 
emissaries,  be  mistaken  for  the  exalted  and  generous  voice  of  the 


142  NATIONAL    GAZETTE. 

American  people.  The  spirit  of  1776  is  again  aroused ;  and  soon  shall 
the  mushroom  lordliugs  of  the  day,  the  enemies  of  American  as  well  as 
French  liberty,  be  taught  that  American  Whigs  of  1776  will  not  suffer 
French  Patriots  of  1792  to  be  vilified  with  impunity  by  the  common 
enemies  of  both. 

*  ^  =fc  *  * 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  our  public  councils  have  not  been  duped  into 
any  disgraceful  negotiation,  respecting  the  American  ports  now  occu 
pied  by  the  British.  If  they  have,  let  the  infamous  transaction  be 
divulged.  If  they  have  not,  let  them  publish  the  truth  for  the 
satisfaction  of  the  public,  and  in  vindication  of  their  own  conduct. 
Let  government  ever  avoid  that  narrow  policy,  which  involves  in  mys 
tery  the  acts  of  public  men,  which  ever  creates  distrust  in  the  minds  of 
the  people,  and  is  only  fit  to  be  practised  by  magistrates  the  most  cor 
rupt  and  worthless. 

*#=#=** 

But  notwithstanding  all  our  endeavors  to  curry  favor  with  Great- 
Britain,  it  is  evident  that  she  despises  our  professions  and  acts  of  neu 
trality I  conclude,  Sir,  by  cautioning  you  not  to  take  all 

upon  your  own  shoulders  at  this  critical  juncture.  Let  the  representa 
tives  of  the  people,  who  can  alone  express  the  national  will,  be  speedily 
convened,  and  let  all  branches  of  the  government  unite  their  coun 
sels  and  their  efforts  for  the  promotion  of  the  public  good. 

#  #  #  #  * 

Should  the  splendor  and  importance  of  great  names  continue  to  be 
held  forth  by  court  writers  to  deter  individuals  from  a  free  investigation 
of  public  measures,  I  shall  have  no  objection  to  resume  my  pen,  and 
bring  unquestionable  arguments  that  elevated  station  is  no  proof  of 
presidential  or  any  other  infallibility. 

"  A  Friend  to  Peace  "  replied  to  "  Veritas,"  first  in 
the  American  Daily  Advertiser,  and  afterwards  in  the 
National  Gazette.  These  writers  brought  into  the  field 
another  writer  under  the  signature  of  "  Philo- Veritas," 
who  called  the  Proclamation  a  "consecrated  bull," 
and  pronounced  it  "  improper,  ill-timed,  and  illegal." 
The  attacks  on  the  President  and  all  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  except  Mr.  Jefferson,  were  continued  with  una 
bated  bitterness  for  several  months  —  sometimes  with 
irony  and  sarcasm.  As  a  specimen  of  the  latter  mode 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  143 

of  attack,  take  the  following  parody  on  the  Athanasian 
creed  :  — 

A  new  Political  Creed  for  the  use  of  whom  it  may  concern. 

Whoever  would  live  peaceably  in  Philadelphia,  above  all  things  it  is 
necessary  that  he  hold  the  Federal  faith  —  and  the  Federal  faith  is  this, 
that  there  are  two  governing  powers  in  this  country,  both  equal,  and 
yet  one  superior :  which  faith  except  every  one  keep  undefiledly,  with 
out  doubt  he  shall  be  abused  everlastingly. 

The  Briton  is  superior  to  the  American,  and  the  American  is  inferior 
to  the  Briton  :  and  yet  they  are  equal  and  the  Briton  shall  govern  the 
American. 

The  Briton,  while  here,  is  commanded  to  obey  the  American,  and  yet 
the  American  ought  to  obey  the  Briton. 

And  yet  they  ought  not  both  to  be  obedient,  but  only  one  to  be  obe 
dient.  For  there  is  one  dominion  nominal  of  the  American,  and 
another  dominion  real  of  the  Briton. 

And  yet  there  are  not  two  dominions,  but  only  one  dominion. 

For  like  as  we  are  compelled  by  the  British  constitution  book  to 
acknowledge  that  subjects  must  submit  themselves  to  their  monarchs, 
and  be  obedient  to  them  in  all  things  : 

So  we  are  forbid  by  our  Federal  executive  to  say  that  we  are  at  all 
influenced  by  our  treaty  with  France,  or  to  pay  regard  to  what  it 
enforceth : 

The  American  was  created  for  the  Briton,  and  the  Briton  for  the 
American : 

And  yet  the  American  shall  be  a  slave  to  the  Briton,  and  the  Briton 
the  tyrant  of  the  American. 

And  Britons  are  of  three  denominations,  and  yet  only  of  one  soul, 
nature,  and  subsistency : 

The  Irishman  of  infinite  impudence  : 

The  Scotchman  of  cunning  most  inscrutable : 

And  the  Englishman,  of  impertinence  altogether  insupportable : 

The  only  true  and  honorable  gentlemen  of  this  our  blessed  country. 

He,  therefore,  that  would  live  in  quiet,  must  thus  think  of  the  Briton 
and  the  American. 

It  is  furthermore  necessary  that  every  good  American  should  believe 
in  the  infallibility  of  the  executive,  when  its  proclamations  are  echoed 
by  Britons : 

For  the  true  faith  is,  that  we  believe  and  confess  that  the  government 
is  fallible  and  infallible  • 


144  NATIONAL    GAZETTE. 

Fallible  in  its  republican  nature,  and  infallible  in  its  monarchical 
tendency,  erring  in  its  state  of  individuality,  and  unerring  in  its  Federal 
complexity. 

So  that  though  it  be  both  fallible  and  infallible,  yet  it  is  not  twain, 
but  one  government  only,  as  having  consolidated  all  state  dominion,  in 
order  to  rule  with  sway  uncontrolled. 

This  is  the  true  Federal  faith,  which  except  a  man  believe  and  prac 
tise  faithfully,  beyond  all  doubt  he  shall  be  cursed  perpetually. 

Volumes  might  be  filled  with  extracts  from  the  politi 
cal  communications  in  the  Gazette,  —  all  censuring  the 
acts  of  the  government,  and  tending  to  create  discontent 
among  the  people.  The  French  government  was  uni 
formly  upheld  and  defended  in  all  its  operations,  and 
especially  in  its  endeavors  to  involve  our  country  in  a 
war  with  Great-Britain.  The  French  minister,  Genet, 
who  arrived  in  this  country  in  1793,  and  immediately 
began  to  arm  and  send  out,  from  our  ports,  privateers  to 
cruise  against  the  British,  was  hailed  and  followed  with 
hosannas,  while  Adams  and  Hamilton  were  assailed 
with  unmitigated  contumely  and  reproach.  The  extracts 
already  offered  are  sufficient  to  fix  the  character  of  the 
paper.  The  papers  of  the  19th,  23d  and  26th  of  Octo 
ber  are  printed  on  half  sheets  only,  and  the  last  contains 
the  following  notice  :  — 

t  |t  With  the  present  number  (208)  concludes  the  second  volume, 
and  second  year's  publication  of  the  National  Gazette.  Having  just 
imported,  on  his  own  account,  a  considerable  quantity  of  new  and  ele 
gant  printing  types  from  Europe,  it  is  the  editor's  intention  to  resume 
the  publication  of  this  paper  in  a  short  time,  and  previously  to  the 

meeting  of  Congress  on  the  second  day  of  December  next 

Printers  of  newspapers  may  omit  sending  their  Gazettes  in  exchange, 
till  further  notified. 

I  am  not  aware  that  the  publication  was  ever  resumed. 
In  1809,  Freneau  collected  and  published  in  two  vol 
umes,  his  poetical  pieces,  which  had  been  printed  in  the 


PHILIP    FRENEAU.  145 

newspapers  from  1768  to  1795.  Many  of  these  origin 
ated  from  events  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  "These 
poems  (he  says  in  a  prefatory  note,)  were  intended  to 
expose  to  vice  and  treason  their  own  hideous  deformity  ; 
to  depict  virtue,  honor,  and  patriotism  in  their  native 
beauty."  Many  of  these  pieces  were  popular  at  the 
time  of  their  publication,  and  are  still  recollected.  Oth 
ers  were  versifications  of  anecdotes  and  humorous  stories. 
"  Columbus  to  Ferdinand  "  and  "  The  Indian  Student " 
found  a  place  in  the  school  books  of  sixty  years  ago.  I 
know  not  in  what  newspaper  the  annexed  verses  were 
first  printed.  They  are  worthy  of  a  place  in  any  speci 
mens  of  poetry,  although  some  of  the  lines  may  be  pro 
nounced  prosaic.  The  last  two  stanzas  present  thoughts 
that  are  highly  poetical  ;  and  the  lines  printed  in  Italics 
present  an  image  supremely  bold  and  beautiful :  — 

THE  INDIAN  BURYING  GROUND. 

In  spite  of  all  the  learned  have  said, 
I  still  my  old  opinion  keep  ; 
The  posture,  that  we  give  the  dead, 
Points  out  the  soul's  eternal  sleep. 

Not  so  the  ancients  of  these  lands  — 
The  Indian,  when  from  life  released, 
Again  is  seated  with  his  friends, 
And  shares  again  the  joyous  feast.1* 

His  imaged  birds,  and  painted  bowl, 
And  venison,  for  a  journey  dressed, 
Bespeak  the  nature  of  the  soul, 
ACTIVITY,  that  knows  no  rest. 

His  bow,  for  action  ready  bent, 
And  arrows,  with  a  head  of  stone, 

*  The  North  American  Indians  bury  their  dead  in  a  sitting  posture ,  decorating 
the  corpse  with  warnpum,  the  images  of  birds,  quadrupeds,  &.c.  :  And  (if  that  of 
a  warrior)  with  bows,  arrows,  tomahawks,  and  other  military  weapons. 

VOL.  ir.  13 


146  NATIONAL    GAZETTE. 

Can  only  mean  that  life  is  spent, 
And  not  the  old  ideas  gone. 

Thou,  stranger,  thou  shalt  come  this  way, 
No  fraud  upon  the  dead  commit — 
Observe  the  swelling  turf,  and  say 
They  do  not  lie,  but  here  they  sit. 

Here  still  a  lofty  rock  remains, 
On  which  the  curious  eye  may  trace 
(Now  wasted  half,  by  wearing  rains,) 
The  fancies  of  a  ruder  race. 

Here  still  an  aged  elm  aspires, 
Beneath  whose  far-projecting  shade 
(And  which  the  shepherd  still  admires) 
The  children  of  the  forest  played ! 

There  oft  a  restless  Indian  queen, 
(Pale  Shebah,  with  her  braided  hair,) 
And  many  a  barbarous  form  is  seen 
To  chide  the  man  that  lingers  there. 

By  midnight  moons,  o'er  moistening  dews, 
In  habit  for  the  chase  arrayed, 
The  hunter  still  the  deer  pursues, 
The  hunter  and  the  deer,  a  shade  ! 

And  long  shall  timorous  Fancy  see 
The  painted  chief,  and  pointed  spear, 
And  Reason's  self  shall  bow  the  knee 
To  shadows  and  delusions  here. 


THE    AMERICAN    APOLLO. 


THE  publication  of  this  paper  begun  with  the  year 
1792.  It  was  published  weekly  on  Friday.  I  have 
not  been  able  to  find  the  first  number.  There  is  a  vol 
ume  in  the  Boston  Athenaeum,  which  opens  with  No. 
40,  and  closes  with  No.  156,  December  25,  1794,  and 
this  I  presume  to  be  the  last  publication,  though  it  con 
tains  no  notice  of  discontinuance.  It  was  first  printed 
by  Belknap  &  Young  ;  afterwards  by  Belknap  &  Hall ; 
and  from  No.  131  to  156,  by  Joseph  Belknap.  This 
gentleman  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Jeremy  Belknap,  and 
was  educated  to  the  trade  of  a  printer.  He  was  the 
editor  of  the  Apollo ;  and  probably  received  some  aid 
from  his  father  at  the  commencement  of  the  enterprise. 

The  Apollo,  at  first,  was  well  conducted,  and  main 
tained  a  respectable  literary  character.  The  editor's 
paragraphs  discover  a  better  knowledge  of  the  English 
language  and  a  more  familiar  acquaintance  with  compo 
sition,  than  those  of  some  of  the  cotemporary  Boston 
journals.  The  correspondents  were  numerous,  and  many 
of  their  contributions  are  of  a  character  well  adapted  to 
amuse  and  improve  the  readers.  The  selections,  in 
general,  were  judiciously  made,  and  evince  care  and 
industry  in  collecting  and  condensing  intelligence,  and 
purity  of  taste  in  gathering  sentiments,  anecdotes,  and 


148  AMERICAN    APOLLO. 

historical  fragments  from  popular  authors.  Its  politics 
were  of  the  Federal  school,  but  neither  ultra  nor  vio 
lent. 

The  Apollo  appears  to  have  pursued  the  tenor  of  its 
way  without  involving  itself  in  any  very  serious  conflict 
with  other  papers  or  their  correspondents.  On  one 
occasion  the  editors  congratulated  "  the  printers  of  the 
Mercury  on  the  rapid  credit  their  paper  was  acquiring 
by  the  scurrility  which  occupied  so  large  a  portion  of 
it  from  week  to  week."  They  lamented  their  own  de 
ficiency  "of  that  laudable  gift,  which  rendered  the 
Apollo  '  dull  and  sleepy '  to  the  low  and  vulgar." 

One  of  the  correspondents  of  the  Apollo  had  a  little 
sparring  with  PHILENIA,  (Mrs.  Morton,)  and  MENANDER, 
(R.  T.  Paine.)  In  some  "  Stanzas  to  Mira,"  Philenia 
wrote,  — 

Since  first  Affliction's  dreary  form 
Gloomed  the  bright  summer  of  my  days, 
Ne'er  has  my  bankrupt  bosom  known 
A  solace  like  his  fearless  praise. 

On  which  "  Truth,"  a  correspondent  of  the  Apollo, 
wrote  the  following  :  — 

Thy  "  bosom  bankrupt !  "  —  ah !  too  true  the  thought : 
A  bankruptcy  indeed  that  breast  displays, 
Which  knows  no  joys  but  those  from  flattery  caught, 
Which  knows  no  "  solace  "  like  Menander's  praise. 

By  the  next  Centinel,  MENANDER  sent  the  following 
stanza  to  TRUTH  :  — 

"  Too  true  the  thought ! "    Know,  Truth,  that  "  bankrupt  breast " 
A  bank  of  genius  and  of  taste  contains ; 
While  thy  lank  muse,  of  not  a  sous  possest, 
BEGS  the  scant  pittance  of  ITS  daily  brains. 


TRUTH  rejoined,  in  the  Apollo, — 


JOSEPH    BELKNAP.  149 

A  "  BANK  of  genius  and  a  BANK  of  taste  I " 
But  few  DISCOUNTS,  Menander,  there  we  find; 
With  all  the  charms  of  lofty  nonsense  graced 
As  well  might  WISDOM  issue  from  thy  mind: 

A  "  BANK  of  genius !  "  —  were  it  so,  how  blest ! 
There  might  thy  "  bankrupt "  Muse  a  credit  gain 
WHICH,  long  by  hunger  and  by  pride  oppressed, 
"  BEGS  "  not,  but  STEALS,  to  "  ease  ITS  daily  "  pain. 

A  few  other  squibs  of  the  like  harmless  character  were 
exchanged,  but  these  are  sufficient  to  show  the  temper 
of  the  belligerents.  A  writer  in  the  Apollo,  addressed 
the  following  lines  to  TRUTH,  which  probably  were  an 
exponent  of  the  public  sentiment  in  regard  to  the  con 
troversy  :  — 

Cannot  Philenia's  harmless  lays 

Draw  from  thy  pen  their  needed  praise  ? 

Cannot  the  puffing  of  Menander 

Make  thee  aside  from  Truth  to  wander  ? 

Must  thou  for  ever  rail  at  such 

Who  please  by  Flattery's  magic  touch  ? 

Canst  not  thou  praise  that  sappy  band, 

Who,  striving,  grasp  at  Wisdom's  wand  ? 

Yet  miss  the  blessing  and  the  boon. 

Like  children  crying  for  the  moon. 

Sure,  friend,  I  think  thee  vastly  wrong 

To  blast  Pliilenia's  pretty  song, 

And  write  against  such  spicy  praise, 

As  makes  the  Boston  people  gaze  ;  — 

'T  is  waging  war  —  and  soon  thou  'It  feel 

Menander's  strokes,  like  sharpened  steel ; 

For  such  destruction 's  in  his  quill, 

As  will  ten  thousand,  like  thee,  kill  — 

He  writes,  and  writes,  then  writes  again ;  — 

O  Lord !  such  squeezing  of  the  brain 

Must  needs  convince  all  men  of  sense 

That  he  's  to  Wisdom's  throne  pretence, 

Whilst  Thou,  meek  Truth,  must  sit  and  sigh 

To  hear  a  herd  of  flatterers  cry,  — 

13* 


150  AMERICAN    APOLLO. 

Philenia  's  great,  Philenia  's  wise, 

Philenia,  daughter  of  the  skies ! 

Whose  songs,  whose  music,  and  whose  lyre 

Charm  each  fond  soul,  and  all  inspire.  IRONICUS. 

A  pleasant  sort  of  correspondence  was  carried  on  in 
the  Apollo,  on  celibacy,  marriage,  house-keeping,  &c. 
by  writers,  who  adopted  the  signatures  of  "  A  Bachelor," 
"  Hymen,"  and  "  Ezekiel."  The  publication  of  an 
original  novel,  called  "  The  Hapless  Orphan,"  also  caused 
a  few  angry  communications  between  the  avowed  friends 
and  the  alleged  enemies  of  American  literature.  The 
novel  itself  did  not  long  outlive  the  controversy  on  its 
merits.  Among  the  poetical  contributions  to  the  Apollo 
are  a  number  signed  "  L.  S."  some  of  which  are  tolerable 
for  newspaper  poetry.  The  verses,  which  follow,  are 
from  a  piece  that  fills  nearly  a  column,  entitled 

CONSCIOUS  GUILT. 
Ye,  who,  o'erpowered  by  Satan,  yield 

To  passion's  cruel  sway, 
Ye  know  full  well  their  torturing  pain, 

Who  burning  lust  obey. 
The  Libyan  sand  or  Greenland  snow, 

The  hardy  spirit  bears ; 
But  to  endure  the  extremes  of  guilt 

The  bravest  soul  despairs. 
The  gnawing  vulture  ceaseless  preys, 

Yet  still  the  soul  remains, 
Still  keenly  feels  the  tearing  wound, 

And  lives  to  endless  pains. 

A  correspondent  requested  the  publication  of  an  arti 
cle,  of  which  a  part  is  annexed,  said  to  be  written  by  a 
person  confined  in  the  Boston  work-house :  — 

THE  CONTRAST,— SOLILOQUY  IN  SERVITUDE. 
What  revolutions  oft  take  place 
Among  the  busy  human  race ! 


JOSEPH    BELKNAP.  151 

Although  with  cautious  steps  we  move, 
Our  best  laid  plans  abortive  prove ; 
When  fairest  prospects  greet  our  eyes, 
Adversity  in  ambush  lies ; 
Thus  are  we  all  by  Fortune  cheated, 
And  our  most  sanguine  hopes  defeated. 
To  ward  her  strokes  we  strive  in  vain,  — 
The  unconstant  Deity  will  reign. 

How  changed  my  station  and  condition ! 
How  unexpected  the  transition 
From  plenteous  fare  and  various  dishes, 
All  to  the  summit  of  my  wishes, 
To  bull-head  broth  and  shins  decreed, 
On  which  reluctantly  I  feed  ; 
From  generous  punch  and  cheerful  wine, 
Of  which  I  drank,  when  fixed  to  dine, 
To  simple  water  and  small  beer ; 
(Can  these  the  languid  spirits  cheer?) 
From  China  plate  to  wooden  tray; 
From  silver  can  to  mug  of  clay ; 
From  feather  bed  to  bed  of  straw ; 
('T  is  thus  ordained  by  work-house  law;) 
From  verdant  meads  and  rising  grounds, 
Now  circumscribed  to  narrow  bounds ; 
From  equal,  friendly,  social  joys, 
Cursed  with  obscenity  and  noise ; 
From  easy  business,  my  delight, 
Now  doomed  to  toil  from  morn  to  night ; 
From  liberty,  the  gift  of  God, 
Subjected  to  a  tyrant's  nod. 

^    ^    #    #    #    # 

With  competence  and  ease  once  blest, 

No  cares  intrusive  marred  my  rest ; 

In  rapturous  dreams  my  conscious  soul, 

Unshackled,  ranged  from  pole  to  pole ; 

Each  cheerful  day  with  pleasure  crowned, 

Complete  felicity  I  found: 

Now  banished  from  the  world,  £c. 

Governor  Hancock,  as  is  well  known,  was  a  violent 
opponent  of  theatrical  exhibitions,  and  had,  some  time 
in  the  year  1792,  ordered  the  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  county 


152  AMERICAN    APOLLO. 

to  arrest  the  actors  at  the  exhibition  room  in  Board 
alley,  for  a  violation  of  the  law  against  stage-plays  ;  in 
consequence  of  which  Harper,  the  manager,  was  arrest 
ed  and  taken  from  the  stage.  The  Governor  was  also 
a  zealous  advocate  for  the  popular  French  doctrine  of 
Liberty  and  Equality,  and  during  the  same  year,  had 
made  himself  a  subject  of  raillery,  by  giving  a  ball  to 
the  colored  people  of  Boston  at  his  mansion-house.  The 
Connecticut  wit,  who  wrote  the  news-boy's  Address  to 
the  Readers  of  the  Hartford  Courant,  humorously  touched 
upon  these  and  some  other  topics,  which  had  occupied 
some  space  in  the  Boston  newspapers.  The  following 
extract  from  the  Address  was  copied  into  the  Apollo :  — 

And  lo !  where  o'er  the  eastern  shores, 

Bostonia  lifts  her  haughty  towers, 

What  motley  scenes  salute  our  eyes  ! 

What  wonders  upon  wonders  rise  ! 

There  each  succeeding  day  still  brings 

A  mixture  strange  of  various  things  ; 

Small-pox,  Physicians,  State-Intriguers, 

John  Hancock's  speeches,  plays,  and  negroes. 

Here  Plays  their  Heathen  names  forsake, 

And  those  of  Moral  Lectures  take ; 

While,  thus  baptized,  they  hope  to  win 

Indulgence  for  all  future  sin. 

Now  Hancock,  fired  with  patriot  rage, 

Proscribes  the  Norvals  of  the  stage ; 

Claps  Harper  under  civil  durance, 

For  having  dared,  with  vile  assurance, 

By  Interludes  and  Plays  profane, 

Pollute  the  glories  of  his  reign : 

Now,  prompt  to  assert  the  Rights  of  Man, 

On  nature's  most  extensive  plan, 

Behold  him,  to  his  splendid  hall, 

The  noble  sons  of  Afric  call ; 

While,  as  the  sable  bands  advance, 

With  frolic  mien  in  sportive  dance, 


JOSEPH    BELKNAP.  153 

Refreshing  clouds  of  rich  perfume 
Are  wafted  o'er  the  spacious  room. 
There  he,  with  keen  delight  surveys 
Their  graceful  tricks,  and  winning  ways  5 
Their  tones  enchanting,  raptured  hears, 
Surpass  the  music  of  the  spheres  ; 
And,  as  he  hreathes  the  fragrant  atV, 
He  deems  that  Freedom's  self  dwells  there ! 
While  Cuffey  near  him  takes  his  stand, 
Hail  fellow  met,  and  grasps  his  hand; 
With  pleasure  glistening  in  his  eyes, 
"  Ah !  Massa  Gubhener,"  he  cries,  — 
"  Me  glad  to  see  you,  for  de  people  say, 
You  lub  de  Neegur  better  dan  de  play." 

The  original  poetry  of  the  Apollo  was  of  an  indiffer 
ent  character,  and  is  hardly  worth  quoting,  for  the  exhibi 
tion  of  its  quality.  The  most  copious  writer  of  this  sort 
of  verse,  used  the  signature  of  "  The  Traveler ; "  and 
beside  a  number  of  smaller  pieces,  composed  one  of  con 
siderable  length,  which  was  continued  through  some  five 
or  six  numbers  of  the  paper,  entitled  "  All  the  World  's 
a  Stage." 


THE  MASSACHUSETTS  MERCURY. 


THE  first  number  of  this  paper  was  issued  on  the  first 
day  of  January,  1793,  by  Alexander  Young  and  Samuel 
Etheridge.  It  was  a  small  half  sheet,  printed  in  four 
pages,  quarto,  and  was  published  three  times  a  week  — 
on  Monday,  Wednesday,  and  Friday.  After  the  pub 
lication  of  seventy-eight  numbers,  it  was  enlarged,  print 
ed  on  a  whole  demy  sheet,  with  four  folio  pages,  and 
issued  only  twice  a  week,  —  Tuesday  and  Friday. 

In  the  first  number  of  the  enlarged  edition,  July  3, 
1793,  the  editors  say,  — "  The  enlargement  of  the 
Mercury  is  contemplated  as  a  duty,  which  they  owe  to 
their  reputation,  and  the  liberal  share  of  the  public  coun 
tenance  which  they  have  received.  They  have  had, 
frequently,  occasion  to  regret  that  the  limits  of  their 


YOUNG    AND    MINNS.  155 

former  paper  were  so  circumscribed,  as  to  exclude  many 
valuable  and  lengthy  communications,  whose  insertion 
would  have  occupied  so  largely  that  other  favors  would 
have  been  repressed  and  variety  rendered  impracticable. 
.  .  .  .  But  the  inclination  of  the  Editors  is  no 
longer  shackled ;  and  while  they  apologize  for  an  appa 
rent  neglect  to  the  more  copious  effusions  of  genius  and 
speculation,  they  anticipate  a  continuance  of  literary 
favors,  and  of  entertaining  packets  of  every  description, 
to  replete  and  variegate  the  Mail  of  the  Mercury"  In 
this  number  of  the  paper,  the  word  "  Massachusetts  " 
was  struck  from  the  title  —  for  which  no  reason  was 
assigned. 

On  the  6th  of  August  following,  the  partnership  of 
Young  &;  Etheridge,  as  proprietors  and  editors  of  the 
Mercury,  was  dissolved  ;  and,  as  may  be  concluded  from 
the  notice,  that  announces  the  dissolution,  by  the  act  of 
Young  alone.  In  the  next  paper  there  was  another  ad 
vertisement  concerning  the  affairs  of  the  establishment, 
beginning  thus  —  "  Alexander  Young,  having  dissolved 
the  partnership  under  the  firm  of  Young  &  Etheridge, 
in  consequence  of  certain  circumstances,  ....  he 
therefore  begs  leave  to  assure  the  public  in  general,  and 
his  friends  in  particular,  that  he  shall  continue  to  edit 
the  Mercury  in  his  own  name,  and  upon  its  present  plan." 
What  these  circumstances  were  does  not  appear,  nor  is 
it  of  much  importance  to  know.  Young  continued  sole 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Mercury  till  the  8th  of  April, 
1794,  when  he  announced  that  he  had  "thought  proper 
to  receive  into  connection  in  the  publication  of  this  paper, 
Mr.  Thomas  Minns,  whose  abilities  and  sedulous  atten 
tion  to  the  duties  of  his  profession  will  probably  conduce 


156  MASSACHUSETTS     MERCURY. 

to  render  this  work  more  extensively  useful  and  interest 
ing."  The  accession  of  a  new  partner  to  the  editorial 
department  was  the  occasion  of  the  following 

ADDRESS  TO  THE  PUBLIC. 

That  a  "  Eree  Press  is  the  sure  palladium  and  bulwark  of  the  civil 
and  religious  liberties  of  every  community,"  is  a  truth  which  Americans 
are  taught  to  lisp  from  their  cradle  —  to  expatiate,  therefore,  on  a  posi 
tion  so  universally  allowed,  appears  unnecessary. 

Conscious,  however,  that  the  low  ribaldry  and  personal  defamation, 
which  frequently  disgrace  European  publications,  and  sometimes  con 
taminate  the  purer  effusions  of  the  American  press,  have  a  most  cer 
tain  tendency  to  depreciate  its  worth,  obstruct  its  utility,  and  to  sap  the 
foundation  of  every  thing  dear  and  valuable  to  mankind,  the  Editors  of 
the  Mercury  will  ever  strive,  with  the  most  cautious  attention,  to  avoid 
the  rocks,  on  which  but  too  many  of  their  cotemporaries  have  been 
shattered. 

On  the  other  hand,  they  aver,  with  the  true  independence  of  Ameri 
cans,  that  no  sinister  views  shall  ever  induce  them  to  swerve  from  that 
strict  impartiality  —  that  ingenuous  candor,  and  that  scrutinizing  vigi 
lance,  so  necessary  to  the  very  existence  of  Eepublican  Freedom:  — 
Theirs  shall  be  the  task 

"  To  drag-  the  lurking  villain  into  day," 

to  expose  the  machinations  of  the  vindictive,  and  to  support  real  merit, 
though  laboring  under  the  oppression  of  obloquy  and  misfortune.  Fear 
less  of  consequences,  the  decent,  the  modest  essays  and  animadver 
sions  of  the  Theologian,  the  Moralist,  and  Politician,  shall  find  a 
most  ready  insertion. 

Public  measures,  of  whatever  nature  or  complexion,  may  be  freely 
and  liberally  descanted  upon  in  the  pages  of  the  Mercury ;  and  while  it 
will  never  be  sullied  by  any  attack  on  private  characters,  Gentlemen  in 
public  capacities,  the  Editors  hope,  will  never  fear  a  minute  investiga 
tion  of  their  conduct. 

But  while  their  particular  attention  is  directed  to  the  dearer  concerns 
of  their  own  country,  the  momentous  affairs  of  Europe  shall  not  be 
neglected — every  event  or  occurrence  —  every  species  of  intelligence, 
important  or  interesting,  shall  be  equally  sought  after,  and  correctly  de 
tailed,  with  the  same  invariable  adherence  to  truth,  which,  they  trust, 
will  ever  be  the  leading  characteristic  of  their  conduct. 

On  these  principles  they  venture  to  solicit  a  continuance  of  that  pa 
tronage  and  support,  which  have  hitherto  been  so  liberally  afforded  to 


YOUNG    AND    MINNS.  157 

the  Mercury,  by  the  respectable  and  intelligent  citizens  of  Massachu 
setts  —  and  with  the  utmost  fidelity  subscribe  themselves  the  Public's 

Most  devoted  Servants, 

YOUNG  &  MINNS. 

From  this  date  the  prosperity  of  the  Mercury  was 
rapid  in  its  progress.  Its  circulation  extended,  and  the 
number  of  its  advertising  customers  increased.  The 
industry  of  the  editors  was  indefatigable.  One  of  them 
was  constantly  in  the  office,  while  the  other  was  looking 
for  the  latest  news  at  the  insurance  offices,  on  the  ex 
change,  or  on  the  wharves,  or  attending  to  the  indispen 
sable  out-door  business  of  the  concern.  On  the  night 
before  the  publication  day  neither  of  them  left  the  office 
till  their  form  was  ready  for  the  press,  which  was  seldom 
before  twelve  o'clock. 

In  June,  1796,  Young  &;  Minns  were  appointed 
Printers  to  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  —  an  ap 
pointment,  which  added  to  their  responsibility  and  their 
income.  In  giving  notice  of  it  to  the  public,  they 
say,— 

As  young  men,  they  feel  they  shall  give  opportunity  for  the  exercise 
of  candor  in  the  prosecution  of  a  paper,  which  will  now  be  considered 
of  more  importance,  perhaps,  than  formerly.  Their  political  sentiments 
have  ever  been  strictly  Republican ;  and  their  grand  object,  in  the  pro 
mulgation  of  intelligence,  the  dissemination  of  Truth.  While,  on  the 
one  hand,  they  have  never  parasitically  flattered  the  wishes  of  the  Peo 
ple,  by  representing  occurrences  falsely  favorable  to  the  French  ;  on  the 
other,  they  have  never  willfully  omitted  an  instance  of  the  misfortune  and 
degradation  of  the  COALITION  against  LIBERTY,  of  which  England  is 
a  branch :  THEY  HAVE  AIMED  TO  BE  JUST. 

Nor  has  Justice  been  studied,  exclusively,  in  stating  Foreign  Intelli 
gence.  In  the  Domestic  Department,  it  has  been  rigorously  adhered 
to ;  they  have  never  bitterly  and  maliciously  abused  the  Rulers  of  our 
country,  nor  bestowed  absurd  and  undeserved  panegyric  upon  them. 
They  have  "  Nothing  extenuated,  nor  set  down  aught  in  malice." 

A  double  assiduity  will  now  be  required  to  publish,  to  the  accepta- 
14 


158  MASSACHUSETTS    MERCURY. 

tion  of  an  extended  and  diversified  patronage,  the  MASSACHUSETTS 
MERCURY.  At  the  moment  the  Editors  declare,  with  confidence,  they 
never  shall  wreck  on  the  rocks  which  have  injured  their  predecessors  — 
they  promise  cautiously  to  avoid  the  sands  of  an  opposite  extreme ; 
and  to  be  immutably  IMPARTIAL. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  next  year,  January  3,  1797, 
the  Mercury  was  again  enlarged,  and  the  word  "  Massa 
chusetts  "  was  restored  to  the  title. 

In  the  course  of  the  next  year  the  public  feeling  was 
considerably  agitated  by  certain  publications  in  Europe, 
by  the  Abbe  Barruel  and  Professor  Robison  of  Edin 
burgh,  concerning  the  organization  and  influence  of  cer 
tain  secret  societies,  called  llluminati.  Professor  Robi- 
son's  work  was  entitled,  "  Proofs  of  a  Conspiracy  against 
all  the  Religions  and  Governments  of  Europe,  carried 
on  in  the  secret  meetings  of  Free  Masons,  lllumin 
ati,  and  Reading  Societies ;  by  John  Robison,  A.  M. 
Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy,  and  Secretary  to  the 
Royal  Society  of  Edinburgh."  The  Rev.  Dr.  Morse, 
of  Charlestown,  in  a  Fast-Day  Sermon,  adverted  to  the 
subject  of  secret  societies,  and  after  giving  a  summary 
account  of  the  principles  and  plan  of  the  llluminati,  and 
the  probable  evidence  of  their  having  commenced  their 
demoralizing  work  in  this  country,  said  —  "  Let  any  who 
doubt  the  truth  and  fairness  of  the  foregoing  representa 
tion,  read  for  themselves.  The  book,  which  is  my 
authority,  ought  to  be  read  by  every  American.  It 
throws  more  light  upon  the  causes  which  have  brought 
the  world  into  its  present  disorganized  state  (I  speak  for 
myself)  than  any,  I  had  almost  said,  than  all  other  books 
beside." 

Dr.  Morse's  Sermon  was  printed,  with  some  explana 
tory  notes,  and  an  appendix,  containing  extracts  from 


YOUNG    AND    MINNS.  159 

Professor  Robison's  "Proofs."  An  interesting  contro 
versy  followed,  and  the  Mercury  was  the  channel,  through 
which  the  most  respectable  of  the  adverse  parties  held 
their  communications  with  the  public.  Some  of  the 
Free  Masons  were  exceedingly  angry  with  Dr.  Morse, 
and  attacked  him  with  virulence.  He  wrote  a  justifica 
tion  of  himself,  and  of  the  character  of  Professor  Rob- 
ison,  which  was  published  in  the  Mercury,  and  extended 
to  seven  or  eight  numbers,  or  to  thrice  that  number  of 
columns.  Doctor  Josiah  Bartlett,  of  Charlestown,  then 
Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts, 
undertook  the  defence  of  the  Free  Masons  against  any 
injurious  imputations  that  might  be  cast  upon  them  in 
consequence  of  the  writings  of  Dr.  Morse.  He  even 
went  so  far  as  to  say  that  the  notes  accompanying  the 
Sermon  were  sufficient  to  explain  the  author's  sentiments 
in  regard  to  Free  Masonry  in  this  country ;  and  added 
that  he  had  "  too  high  an  opinion  of  his  [Dr.  Morse's] 
independence  and  consistency  of  conduct,  to  suppose 
that  he  would  have  assisted  in  his  professional  character 
at  a  late  public  solemnity,  if  he  was  really  unfriendly  to 
the  institution."  *  The  chief  attempts  to  invalidate  the 
credit  of  Professor  Robison's  "  Proofs,"  which  appeared 
in  the  Mercury,  were  made  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bentley  of 
Salem,  and  an  anonymous  writer  under  the  signature  of 
"  Censor."  Some  other  writers  occasionally  touched 
upon  the  subject,  just  forcibly  enough  to  keep  it  before 
the  public,  but  without  adding  any  interest  to  the  con 
troversy.  An  abridgement  of  Barruel's  "Memoirs  of 

*  The  Corinthian  Lodge  was  publicly  constituted,  and  its  officers  installed,  at 
Concord,  two  months  after  the  publication  of  the  Fast  Day  Sermon,  on  which  oc 
casion  Dr.  Morse  delivered,  at  their  request,  a  very  acceptable  discourse,  before 
the  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  and  a  large  assembly  of  the  Fraternity. 


160  NEW-ENGLAND    PALLADIUM. 

Jacobinism,"  originally  written  for  a  Hartford  paper,  was 
published  in  the  Mercury,  in  1799,  after  which  the  cor 
respondents  of  the  paper  seemed  disposed  to  let  the 
subject  rest. 

The  commencement  of  the  present  century,  January, 
1801,  may  be  remembered  as  a  new  era  in  the  history 
of  this  paper.  WARREN  BUTTON,  a  gentleman  of  fine 
talents,  and  a  scholar  of  high  reputation,  from  New- 
Haven,  became  its  editor,  and  was  aided  by  the  contri 
butions  of  many  good  writers.  It  was  generally  under 
stood  that  this  arrangement  was  effected  through  the 
agency  of  Dr.  Morse.  The  mechanical  execution  of 
the  paper  was  much  improved,  and  the  pages  enlarged. 
The  title  also,  underwent  a  change,  and  now  appeared  as 


NEW-ENGLAND    PALLADIUM. 

The  style  of  the  new  editor,  as  well  as  the  moral  and 
political  principles,  which  the  Palladium  was  intended 
to  inculcate  and  enforce,  are  illustrated  in  the  following 
elegantly-written  article,  with  which  he  began  his  ca 
reer  :  — 

ADDRESS  TO  THE  PUBLIC. 

At  the  close  of  a  century,  it  is  natural  and  useful  to  pause  for  a 
moment,  and  review  the  years  which  have  past ;  to  examine  the  moral 
and  political  condition  of  mankind,  and  calculate  their  progress  in 
wisdom,  knowledge,  and  happiness.  The  idea  of  a  perpetual  and 
irresistible  advancement  towards  a  better  and  more  perfect  state  of 
society  is  so  grateful  and  alluring,  that  we  are  apt  to  lose  sight  of  the 


WARREN    BUTTON.  161 

real  character  of  men,  and  invest  them  with  ideal  degrees  of  perfection ; 
to  overlook  all  the  lessons  of  experience  and  corrected  reason ;  to 
neglect  the  means  of  happiness,  which  lie  within  our  reach,  and  gaze 
upon  the  visions  of  distant  good.  It  is  not  strange,  therefore,  that  men 
of  warm  hearts  have  been  fascinated  with  the  delusive  appearance  of 
great,  and  hitherto  unknown  blessings,  so  soon  to  be  realized ;  that  they 
have  given  up  the  acquisitions  of  past  ages,  and,  for  a  while,  forgotten 
that  they  were  men.  Happily  for  mankind,  they  have  awaked  from 
this  dream  of  moral  and  political  perfection  to  a  serious  consideration 
of  the  character  and  condition  of  man;  to  examine  the  rectitude  and 
perfection  of  his  reason,  its  nature,  extent  and  province,  —  and  to 
reflect  upon  those  new  maxims  in  morals  and  policy,  which  have  been 
hidden  from  the  wisdom  of  ages.  They  have  been  led  to  observe  their 
influence  upon  the  conduct,  character,  and  happiness  of  individuals  and 
nations,  and  beheld  their  secret,  renovating  progress.  Their  reflections 
upon  the  great  changes,  in  the  modes  of  thinking  and  acting,  in  govern 
ments  and  religion,  have  terminated  in  a  settled  belief,  that  modern 
liberty  and  equality,  the  emancipation  and  regeneration  of  the  world, 
the  perfectibility  of  reason,  and  all  the  farrago  of  political  creed- 
mongers,  are  founded  in  the  vanity,  pride,  and  wickedness  of  the 
human  heart ;  and  that  they  are  calculated  to  call  into  action  all  its  rest 
less  and  licentious  propensities,  to  chill  its  virtues,  and  corrupt  its  best 
affections.  The  efforts  of  political  philosophists  were  primarily  de 
signed  to  effect  a  revolution  in  the  moral  state  of  man ;  to  weaken  his 
sense  of  obligation,  by  placing  him  in  an  insulated  state ;  to  darken  the 
limits  of  moral  good  and  evil,  by  sophistry  and  scepticism,  and,  by  the 
corruption  of  his  moral  taste  and  sentiments,  to  prepare  his  mind  for 
the  reception  of  Atheism.  The  causes,  which  have  produced  this  sin 
gular  state  of  depravity  among  the  civilized  nations  of  the  world,  may 
be  traced  in  their  operation  through  the  greatest  part  of  the  last  cen 
tury.  The  spirit  of  free-thinking,  prevalent  in  Europe,  at  an  early 
period,  has  been  gradually  diminishing  the  reverence  for  religious  insti 
tutions,  exalting  reason  with  its  weaknesses  and  imperfections,  above 
all,  which  is  called  God,  till  at  length,  uniting  with  the  spirit  of  modern 
liberty  and  revolution,  it  has  gone  forth  the  terror  and  the  destroyer  of 
nations.  Yet  the  revolutions,  which  have  marked  the  close  of  the  last 
century,  with  every  circumstance  of  cruelty  and  dumb  dismay,  have 
been  represented  as  the  necessary  regimen  for  a  new  and  more  perfect 
state.  The  cries  of  poverty  and  wretchedness,  of  despair  and  death, 
have  been  silenced  with  the  lullaby  of  liberty.  Human  victims  have 
been  the  viands  at  the  carnival  of  freedom,  and  its  rites  have  been  cele 
brated  with  the  orgies  of  demons. 

14* 


162  NEW-ENGLAND    PALLADIUM. 

The  reason  of  man,  acting  and  concluding  through  the  medium  of 
vanity,  of  pride,  of  prejudice,  and  of  every  vicious  propensity,  has 
developed  and  sanctioned  all  the  maxims  and  principles  in  the  new 
code  of  morals  and  policy;  converted  his  rights  into  a  vast  "magazine 
of  offensive  weapons,"  and  wielded  them  for  the  purposes  of  invasion 
and  destruction.  After  all  this  noise,  turmoil,  and  devastation,  what 
good  has  resulted  to  the  world?  What  neAV  principles  have  been 
devised  and  adopted,  which  experience  has  proved  useful  and  salutary  ? 
What  new  grounds  have  been  found  for  the  security  of  civil  or  reli 
gious  rights  ?  or,  in  what  manner  has  the  cause  of  sound  and  useful 
science  been  promoted  ? 

It  is  well  known,  that  the  people,  who  first  settled  this  countiy, 
brought  with  them  the  true  principles  of  liberty,  and  that  their  Jiterary, 
civil,  and  religious  establishments  have  been,  from  that  time  to  this,  its 
only  solid  support.  The  spirit,  which  grew  out  of  these  institutions, 
while  nourished  and  supported  by  them,  has  been  their  vigilant  guard 
ian  and  protector.  While  it  inculcated  submission  to  all  lawful  and 
righteous  authority,  it  stood  ready  to  meet  aggression  and  invasion,  in 
every  form.  It  carried  this  country  through  a  long,  disastrous  war, 
and  secured  to  its  inhabitants  a  government,  suited  to  its  social,  literary, 
and  moral  condition.  If,  therefore,  the  foundations  of  this  government 
are  not  supported,  the  superstructure  must  fall.  Whenever  the  man 
ners  and  habits  of  the  people,  in  this  country,  become  licentious  and 
corrupt,  the  government  must  of  course  become  the  object  of  calumny 
and  abuse;  and  if  this  corruption  cannot  be  checked,  or  controled,  a 
system  of  government,  better  suited  to  their  habits  and  state  of  society, 
will  be  found  absolutely  necessary.  How  far  this  moral  and  political 
corruption  has  spread,  the  spirit  of  abuse  and  misrepresentation,  of 
slander  and  insurrection,  so  fully  manifested  in  this  country,  must 
declare. 

For  ourselves,  we  consider  the  line  of  duty  as  limited  and  defined. 
We  know  that  the  great  body  of  the  New-England  people  are  of  one 
mind ;  that  they  still  reverence,  cherish,  and  support  the  institutions  of 
their  venerable  forefathers ;  and  that,  for  the  maintenance  of  these,  in 
their  purity  and  simplicity,  no  price  will  be  thought  too  high,  no  sacri 
fice  too  great.  Whatever  changes,  therefore,  may  take  place  in  the 
political  condition  of  this  country,  the  principles,  which  we  espouse, 
will  forever  remain  the  same.  They  are  not  the  doctrines  and  opinions 
of  a  day ;  they  do  not  vary  with  every  turn  of  circumstance,  nor  suit 
themselves  to  every  change  of  civil  administration ;  but  they  are 
founded  upon  the  unchanging  laws  of  truth  and  justice,  sanctioned  by 
long  experience,  and  defended  by  weapons  tempered  from  the  "  armory 


YOUNG    AND    MINNS.  163 

of  God."  For  the  defence  of  these  invaluable  blessings,  we  stand  pre 
pared,  on  the  one  hand,  to  meet  and  repel  the  industrious  malevolence 
of  bad  men,  in  every  form,  and,  on  the  other,  to  preserve  the  good 
manners  and  habits  of  New-England.  And,  while  we  are  desirous,  and 
zealous  to  diffuse  a  correct  taste  in  literature,  to  encourage  useful  science, 
and  to  maintain  the  principles  of  well-regulated  society,  we  shall  not 
be  inattentive  to  the  open  or  disguised  attacks  of  the  enemies  of  our 
peace.  In  every  lawful  and  authorized  way,  we  are  pledged,  by  our 
situation,  to  unravel  the  designs  and  expose  the  practices  of  factious 
and  unprincipled  men,  and  to  exhibit,  for  the  habitual  consideration  of 
our  countrymen,  those  theoretic  ideas  of  liberty,  which  always  terminate 
in  practical  slavery. 

Resting,  therefore,  in  the  justice  and  goodness  of  our  cause,  we 
heartily  join  in  the  determination  of  the  New-England  farmer,  mer 
chant,  and  man  of  letters,  to  "  quit  themselves  like  men,  and,  having 
done  all,  to  stand." 

Immediately  following  this  address  is  an  extract  from 
a  Poem  (filling  more  than  three  columns)  entitled  "  THE 
RETROSPECT.  Scene  —  Summit  of  the  Alps"  intro 
duced  by  a  note  to  the  Editor,  stating  that  it  was  written 
in  the  year  1796,  with  an  intention  to  have  it  published, 
the  following  January,  —  that,  at  the  close  of  1797,  it 
received  some  additions,  relating  to  the  principal  events 
of  that  year,  —  but  that  it  had  never  been  published.  It 
has  considerable  poetical  merit,  and  the  sentiments  were 
such  as  pervaded  all  productions  written  by  those,  who 
saw  every  thing  that  was  bad  and  could  discover  nothing 
that  was  good  in  the  progress  of  the  French  war  against 
the  other  powers  of  Europe.  The  Poet  supposes  him 
self  on  the  summit  of  the  Alps,  and  addressed  by  an 
imaginary  genius,  in  numbers  describing  the  scenes  sur 
veyed  from  that  position.  A  few  lines  are  sufficient  to 
afford  a  specimen  of  the  style :  — 

Where  soft  Italia's  summer  hills  arise, 
"Where  the  fields  purple  in  Elysian  skies, 
Where  amorous  Ocean  bids  his  vernal  gale 
Scent  the  glad  lawn,  and  wanton  o'er  the  vale, 


164  NEW-ENGLAND    PALLADIUM. 

Where  Love,  with  zone  unbound,  on  pleasure's  wing, 
Laughs  round  the  year,  and  hails  eternal  spring, 
How  changed  the  scene !     The  native  now  no  more 
With  veins  of  milk,  and  soul  of  harmless  lore, 
Seeks  the  still  walk,  the  smiling  garden  hails, 
Bedews  his  greens,  and  breathes  dissolving  gales  5 
No  more,  while  Philomel  forgets  to  sing, 
Tunes  the  soft  voice,  or  strikes  the  silver  string ; 
No  more  enraptured,  joins  the  morning  throng, 
The  slow  procession,  and  the  solemn  song ; 
To  the  proud  temple  bends  his  silent  way, 
Kneels  to  the  passing  Host,  and  seems  to  pray. 
From  sleep  and  death  he  wakes  to  life  unknown, 
And  glows  with  thoughts  and  wishes,  not  his  own ; 
Through  his  roused  nerves  he  feels  the  clarion  thrill, 
His  bosom  throbs,  his  veins  with  horror  chill, 
With  sparkling  flames  his  frenzied  eye-balls  roll, 
And  Freedom's  mania  rages  through  his  soul. 
Aghast  he  sees  a  new-born  Caesar  rise, 
And  grasp  at  all  beneath  Italian  skies  ; 
Aghast  he  sees  the  crimson  ensigns  play, 
Fire  sweep  the  fields,  and  ruin  cloud  the  day. 

Some  of  the  best  writers  in  New-England  then 
enriched  the  columns  of  the  Palladium  with  their  pro 
ductions,  and  these  together  with  the  spicy  and  pungent 
paragraphs  of  the  Editor,  soon  elevated  the  character  of 
the  paper,  as  a  political  and  literary  journal,  to  an  equal 
ity  with  the  highest  in  the  country.  Among  the  politi 
cal  contributors,  was  FISHER  AMES,  a  man  highly  dis 
tinguished  among  the  eminent  statesmen  and  patriots, 
who  procured  the  ratification  of  the  Federal  Constitution 
in  Massachusetts,  and  who  had  been  a  conspicuous  and 
influential  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  United  States  during  the  eight  years  of  Washington's 
administration.  Owing  to  ill  health,  he  had  retired  from 
public  life,  but  did  not  withdraw  his  mind  from  politics. 
His  essays  in  the  Palladium,  for  some  years,  were 


YOUNG    AND    MINNS.  165 

numerous.  Soon  after  his  death,  which  happened  on 
the  fourth  of  July,  1808,  they  were  published,  in  a  vol 
ume  with  several  contributions  to  other  papers  and  some 
of  his  public  speeches,  by  a  number  of  his  friends. 

A  series  of  numbers  under  the  title  of  The  Projector, 
and  another  series,  entitled  Morpheus,  were  written 
chiefly  in  an  ironical  style,  and  directed  against  the  writ 
ings  of  William  Godwin  and  intended  to  overthrow 
the  principles  of  the  Godwinian  school  of  politics  and 
morals.  Other  political  essays,  earnestly  and  eloquently 
illustrating  and  enforcing  the  doctrines  of  Federalism, 
and  exposing  in  the  deepest  tones  of  invective  the  prin 
ciples  of  the  Jacobin  party,  may  be  found  in  the  Palla 
dium  under  the  titles  of  The  Political  Whip-Top,  Brit 
ish  Influence,  A.mericanus,  Aristomanes,  Novanglus, 
Laicus,  Quintilian,  Equality,  and  others.  The  Observer 
treated  chiefly  of  the  moral  and  social  condition  of  soci 
ety.  The  Restorator,  which  extended  to  about  thirty 
numbers,  was  confined  to  literary  topics.  Seven  num 
bers  were  devoted  to  a  discussion  of  the  style  of  Junius, 
and  his  merits  as  a  political  writer.  One  or  two  num 
bers  animadverted,  in  terms  not  remarkably  respectful, 
on  the  character  and  works  of  Noah  Webster,  who  was 
then  about  publishing  the  first  edition  of  his  Columbian 
Dictionary.  Webster  replied  in  a  style  rather  acrimo 
nious,  but  made  a  satisfactory  defence  —  satisfactory  to 
those,  at  least,  who  contend  for  American  rights  in  liter 
ature  as  well  as  in  government,  commerce,  and  manufac 
tures. 

The  editorials  of  Mr.  Button  were  written  with  much 
earnestness  and  energy,  and  in  a  style  greatly  superior 
to  what  the  public  had  been  accustomed  to  see  in  the 


166  XtW-ENGLAND    PALLADIUM. 

Boston  newspapers.  As  his  name  never  appeared  in 
the  paper,  as  that  of  its  editor,  the  precise  time  when 
he  withdrew  from  it  is  not  known. 

His  retirement,  and  the  discontinuance  of  the  contri 
butions  of  some  of  the  popular  correspondents,  caused  a 
retiring  ebb  in  the  tide  of  its  prosperity  >.  But  though  its 
political  influence  began  to  dimmish,  it  continued  to  be  a 
favorite  with  the  mercantile  community,  as  a  vehicle  of 
commercial  and  shipping  intelligence.  For  many  years, 
its  marine  department  was  the  fullest  and  most  accurate 
of  any  that  was  published.^  The  patronage  of  the  state 
was  retained  many  years  by  Young  &  Minns,  and  its 
character  as  the  official  paper  of  the  state  government, 
gave  it  currency  among  men  of  business,  with  whom 
politics  was  a  matter  of  but  little  concern  in  comparison 
with  their  private  and  professional  concerns.  Minns, 
who  acted  as  principal  editor,  seldom  wrote  an  article  of 
any  length  ;  but  he  had  a  peculiar  practice  of  condensing 
items  of  news  to  a  paragraph  of  two  or  three  lines,  — 
superadding,  perhaps,  a  remark  of  his  own,  of  about  the 
same  length. 

The  original  poetry,  which  appeared  from  time  to  time 
in  the  Palladium,  was  not  much  above  the  ordinary  level 
of  the  newspaper  standard.  The  lampoon,  that  follows, 
is  one  of  the  best  of  the  poetical  squibs  of  the  day.  It 
is  necessary  to  say,  in  the  way  of  explanation,  that  the 
admirers  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  living  in  the  town  of  Cheshire, 
Berkshire  county,  manufactured  an  immensely  large 
cheese,  and  sent  it  to  him  as  a  token  of  their  respect 
and  affection.  The  cheese  was  conveyed  to  the  city  of 
Washington  and  presented  to  Mr.  Jefferson  by  Elder  John 
Leland,  the  pastor  of  a  Baptist  church  in  Cheshire :  — 


YOUNG    AND    MINNS.  167 

THE  MAMMOTH  CHEESE. 

AN   EPICO-LYRICO   BALLAD. 

From  meadows,  rich  with  clover  red, 

A  thousand  heifers  come ; 
The  tinkling  bells  the  tidings  spread, 
The  milk-maid  muffles  up  her  head, 

And  wakes  the  village  hum. 
In  shining  pans  the  snowy  flood 

Through  whitened  canvas  pours  ; 
The  dying  pots  of  otter  good, 
And  rennet,  tinged  with  madder  blood, 

Are  sought  among  their  stores. 
The  quivering  curd,  in  panniers  stowed, 

Is  loaded  on  the  jade, 
The  stumbling  beast  supports  the  load, 
While  trickling  whey  bedews  the  road, 

Along  the  dusty  glade. 
As  Cairo's  slaves,  to  bondage  bred, 

The  arid  deserts  roam, 
Through  trackless  sands  undaunted  tread, 
With  skins  of  water  on  their  head, 

To  cheer  their  masters'  home,  — 
So  here,  full  many  a  sturdy  swain 

His  precious  luggage  bore : 
Old  misers  too  forgot  their  gain, 
And  bed-rid  cripples,  free  from  pain, 

Now  took  the  road  before. 
The  widow,  with  her  dripping  mite, 

Upon  her  saddle  borne, 
Rode  up  in  haste  to  see  the  sight, 
And  aid  a  charity  so  right, 

A  pauper  so  forlorn. 
The  circling  throng  an  opening  drew 

Upon  the  verdant  grass, 
To  let  the  vast  procession  through, 
To  spread  their  rich  repast  in  view, 

And  Elder  J.  L.  pass. 
Then  Elder  J.  with  lifted  eyes, 

In  musing  posture  stood, 
Invoked  a  blessing  from  the  skies, 


168  NEW-ENGLAND    PALLADIUM. 

To  save  from  vermin,  mites,  and  flies, 

And  keep  the  bounty  good. 
Now  mellow  strokes  the  yielding  pile 

From  polished  steel  receives, 
And  shining  nymphs  stand  still  awhile, 
Or  mix  the  mass  with  salt  and  oil, 

With  sage  and  savory  leaves. 
Then,  sexton-like,  the  patriot  troop, 

With  naked  arms  and  crown, 
Embraced,  with  hardy  hands,  the  scoop, 
And  filled  the  vast  expanded  hoop, 

While  beetles  smashed  it  down. 
Next  girding  screws,  the  ponderous  beam, 

With  heft  immense,  drew  down  ; 
The  gushing  whey,  from  every  seam, 
Flowed  through  the  streets,  a  rapid  stream, 

And  shad  came  up  to  town. 

Soon  after  the  passage  of  the  Embargo  act  in  1 807, 
several  pieces  of  doggerel  appeared  in  the  Palladium, 
ridiculing  that  unpopular  measure.  The  annexed  verses 
are  extracted  from  one  of  them,  entitled  "  New  Hob 
bies,"  a  parody  on  a  well  known  song :  — 

Ever  since  the  great  flood,  and  perhaps,  long  before, 
Men  have  all  had  their  hobbies  —  some  one,  and  some  more : 
But,  whether  we  ride  upon  one,  two,  or  three, 
Hobby-horseical  riding  has  always  been  free. 

All  on  hobbies. 

The  Embargo's  the  hobby,  which  Democrats  ride, 
It  is  Jefferson's  glory  and  Madison's  pride ; 
May  all  swear  to  support  it,  whatever  it  cost, 
From  Tommy  the  Great,  down  to * 

Curse  such  hobbies. 

*  =fc  *  *  *  ^ 

If  we  cross  the  Atlantic,  in  Europe  we  find 
Kings,  emperors,  and  subjects  to  riding  inclined; 
The  whim  's  universal,  let  this  proof  content  us, 
There  is  no  place  discovered  where  "  non  est  inventus" 

All  on  hobbies. 
*  Ichabod  Frost,  a  somewhat  noted  broker,  at  that  time,  in  State-street. 


YOUNG    AND    MINNS.  169 

John  Bull  has  his  hobby  —  his  "overgrown  navy," 
Which  thousands  of  Frenchmen  has  sent  to  old  Davy : 
'T  is  the  strength  of  his  nation,  the  scourge  of  proud  France  ; 
'T  is  his  shield  and  his  helmet,  his  buckler  and  lance. 

Powerful  hobby. 

Napoleon  the  despot  his  hobby  bestrides  ; 
Not  content  with  one  empire,  on  kingdoms  he  rides  ; 
But  in  mounting  poor  Spain,  and  while  seizing  the  reins 
She  kicked  till  poor  Bona.  got  flung  for  his  pains. 

Curb  your  hobby. 

Let 's  beware,  lest  America  next  be  his  aim  ; 
If  it  should,  as  Spain  served  him,  we  '11  serve  him  the  same ; 
True  Yankees  will  never  submit  to  his  straddle, 
But  will  kick  hard  enough  to  kick  him  from  his  saddle. 

Spur  your  hobbies. 

The  marine  department  of  the  Palladium  was  man 
aged  for  many  years,  entirely,  by  HENRY  INGRAHAM 
BLAKE,  —  a  journeyman  printer,  whose  ambition  to 
acquire  the  reputation  of  the  best  ship-news  reporter, 
set  all  competition  at  defiance.  When  he  entered  upon 
this  employment,  the  incidents  of  navigation  were  but 
imperfectly  given  in  the  newspapers.  He  may  be  almost 
said  to  have  invented  the  present  universal  mode  of  re 
porting  clearances,  arrivals,  disasters,  and  the  various 
incidents  connected  with  the  shipping  interest  of  the 
country.  There  was  a  time  when  this  individual,  — 
familiarly  known  among  printers,  merchants,  and  sea 
men,  by  the  name  of  Harry  Blake,  —  might  command 
any  salary  he  might  choose  to  ask  from  any  newspaper 
establishment  in  Boston.  He  knew  the  name,  the  owner, 
the  captain's  name,  and  the  number  of  his  crew,  of 
every  thing  that  sailed  from  the  harbor  of  Boston,  from 
the  smallest  craft  that  had  sail  and  rudder  to  the  most 
magnificent  specimen  of  naval  architecture  ;  and  he  was 
able  to  tell  the  position  of  almost  every  vessel,  and  the 

15 


170  NEW-ENGLAND    PALLADIUM. 

time  when  she  would  arrive  at  her  port  of  destination,  if 
not  prevented  by  unforeseen  and  improbable  accident. 
He  was  faithful  to  his  employers,  and  proud  of  his 
employment.  He  would  visit  the  wharves  at  midnight, 
to  obtain  an  item  for  the  morning's  paper ;  and  has  fre 
quently  gone  out  alone  in  a  boat  to  meet  a  ship  that  was 
coming  into  the  harbor,  in  darkness,  storm,  and  tempest, 
to  secure  information  wherewith  to  enrich  his  journal. 
The  intelligence  he  thus  obtained  he  carried  in  his 
memory  to  the  printing-office,  put  it  in  type,  and,  if  the 
paper  had  been  partially  worked  off,  he  would  stop  the 
press  to  insert  it.  Whenever  he  made  a  memorandum 
of  the  information  he  gathered  in  his  walks  among  the 
shipping  in  the  harbor,  or  at  the  boarding-houses  of  the 
captain's  clerks,  or  mates,  it  was  written  with  a  pencil, 
in  characters,  which  no  mortal  but  himself  could  read  or 
understand,  on  a  bit  of  paper  no  bigger  than  his  hand, 
and  some  times  on  the  margin  of  any  old  newspaper  he 
might  have  in  his  pocket.  After  establishing  the  reputa 
tion  of  the  Palladium  Marine  Journal,  above  that  of  all  its 
cotemporaries,  and  enjoying  his  triumph  as  king  of  ship- 
news  collectors,  for  some  cause  unknown  he  sought  for  a 
change,  not  of  employment  but  of  employer,  and  enlisted 
in  the  service  of  the  Boston  Courier,  in  which  he  con 
tinued  many  years.  This  course  of  life  was,  to  Harry 
Blake,  no  labor,  but  recreation ;  but  it  was,  nevertheless, 
an  employment  that  must,  inevitably,  diminish  the  capa 
bility  of  performing  it.  Exposure  to  cold  and  wet,  to 
the  scorching  heats  of  July,  and  the  tempestuous  snows 
and  hail  of  January,  was  too  much  for  a  human  consti 
tution.  Of  itself  it  was  enough  to  destroy  a  man, 
though  his  muscles  were  made  of  steel  and  his  bones  of 


YOUNG    AND    MINNS.  171 

oak.  But  Harry  Blake  suffered  domestic  troubles  to 
lead  him  to  indulgences  not  justified  by  strict  require 
ments  of  temperance.  Seldom,  too,  when  he  found  or 
made  acquaintances  on  ship-board,  was  he  allowed  to 
depart  without  partaking  of  a  social  cup.  At  length  he 
sank  under  the  pressure  of  intellectual  and  physical  dis 
orders,  which  benevolent  friends  had  sought  to  alleviate, 
but  which  it  was  beyond  the  power  of  kindness  to  avert. 
His  death  happened  some  years  ago,  but  there  are  many 
of  his  cdtemporaries,  who  remember  him  with  affectionate 
regret.  Like  Yorick's,  his  ghost  may  still  have  the  con 
solation  of  hearing,  in  some  of  the  printing-offices,  a 
reminiscent  sigh,  accompanied  with  the  exclamation, 
Alas  !  poor  Harry  Blake. 

On  the  first  of  September,  1828,  the  publication  of 
the  Palladium  was  transferred  to  other  hands,  and  the 
change  was  thus  announced  — 

TO   THE  PUBLIC. 

After  nearly  forty  years'  duty  in  the  Editorial  field,  we  now  make  our 
valedictory  obeisance,  and  respectfully  withdraw,  that  the  young  and 
energetic  may  come  forward  to  serve  their  cotemporaries  and  others. 
The  Palladium  will  hereafter  be  published  by  Mr.  G.  V.  H.  Forbes,  for 
some  time  advantageously  known  as  the  Editor  of  a  very  respectable 
and  useful  paper  in  this  city.* 

We  cannot  neglect  this  opportunity  to  offer  our  most  grateful 
acknowledgements  to  those  whose  encouragement  has  sustained  us, 
and  particularly  the  individuals  who  extended  the  hand  of  generous 
friendship  to  our  inexperienced  and  untried  youth,  and  continued  warm 
to  the  last.  Among  our  first  patrons  were  numbered  the  sires  and 
grandsires  of  many  of  the  generation  now  in  active  business. 

We  tender  sincere  thanks  to  our  Professional  Brethren  for  the  good 
feelings  they  have  always  manifested  towards  us,  and  for  contributing 
their  full  share  to  the  uninterrupted  harmony  that  has  existed,  which  no 
variance  in  religion,  politics,  or  interests,  has  ever,  in  the  least,  dis 
turbed  ;  and  we  most  cordially  reciprocate  the  kind  wishes  which  have 
been  recently  expressed.  *  *  *  *  =* 

*  "  Zion'-s  Herald  "  —  a  Methodist  paper. 


172  NEW-ENGLAND     PALLADIUM. 

Having  been  honored  with  the  good  will  of  the  public,  we  know  its 
value,  as  constituting  an  indispensable  part  of  the  basis  of  happiness, 
and  hope  to  retain  it  to  the  end  of  our  pilgrimage.  With  aspirations 
for  blessings  on  our  country  we  add,  with  the  interesting  associations 
which  belong  to  the  word,  our  professional  ADIETJ. 

Boston,  September  1,  1828.  YOUNG  &  MINNS. 

This  was  a  deadly  blow  to  a  flourishing  and  profitable 
business.  Whatever  might  have  been  the  talents  of  the 
new  editor,  as  the  conductor  of  a  religious  publication, 
it  soon  appeared  that  he  was  not  equal  to  the  task  he 
had  undertaken.  He  abandoned  it  in  November,  1829. 
The  Palladium  then  became  the  property  of  E.  King- 
man,  a  gentleman,  who  had,  for  several  years,  been  the 
Washington  correspondent  of  editors,  in  sundry  places. 
He  was  an  excellent  writer  of  letters  ;  but  the  event 
proved  that  he  could  succeed  much  better  as  a  reporter 
at  the  capital  in  Washington,  than  in  the  editorial  de 
partment  of  a  business  paper  in  Boston.  The  next 
year,  the  whole  establishment  was  disposed  of  to  Adams 
&  Hudson,  then  proprietors  of  the  Columbian  Centinel, 
who  continued  the  publication  of  the  Palladium  on 
Tuesday  and  Friday,  the  two  papers  being  made  up 
chiefly  of  the  same  matter.  In  1840,  the  subscription 
lists  of  both  these  papers,  together  with  that  of  the 
Boston  Gazette,  were  purchased  by  the  proprietors  of 
the  Boston  Daily  Advertiser. 

ALEXANDER  YOUNG,  the  original  projector,  and  owner 
of  the  Mercury  and  the  Palladium,  was  a  native  of 
Boston,  and  the  son  of  Alexander  Young,  whose  an 
cestors  were  also  inhabitants  of  that  town.  He  used 
frequently  to  speak  of  working  as  a  printer  at  Plymouth, 
and  at  the  office  of  Isaiah  Thomas  in  Worcester,  —  but 
whether  as  an  apprentice  or  journeyman  at  either  place 


YOUNG    AND    MINNS.  173 

is  not  recollected.  He  died  in  Boston,  March  24,  1834, 
aged  sixty-six. 

THOMAS  MINNS  was  also  a  native  of  Boston.  I  have 
heard  that  he  served  his  apprenticeship  at  Plymouth, 
with  Nathaniel  Coverly  ;  but  there  are  reasons  for  doubt 
as  to  that  point.  He  also  died  in  Boston,  in  1834. 

There  have  been  very  few  partnerships  in  business, 
that  have  continued  so  long  uninterrupted  as  that  of 
Young  &  Minns.  Whatever  differences  of  temper  and 
sentiment  might  have  existed  between  them,  there  were 
other  attributes,  which  they  held  in  common,  —  industry, 
economy,  integrity,  perseverance,  generosity ;  and  this 
was  the  whole  secret,  though  it  was  no  secret  to  their 
friends  and  acquaintance,  which  kept  them  in  harmoni 
ous  union,  for  near  forty  years,  in  a  business,  which,  of 
all  others,  is  most  trying  to  human  patience  and  good 
nature.  Every  one,  who  has  had  the  management  of  a 
newspaper  in  a  place  of  any  importance,  can  understand 
this.  Their  habits  of  industry  and  personal  attention  to 
their  business  were  proverbial,  and  continued  as  long  as 
they  were  publishers  of  the  paper.  Each  of  them 
accumulated  what  may  be  called  a  handsome  property  ; 
but  such  untiring  labor,  and  judicious  economy  in  any 
mercantile  pursuit,  would  have  insured  the  possession  of 
a  million. 

When  Young  &  Minns  retired  from  the  publication  of 
the  Palladium,  the  printers  and  editors  of  Boston  invited 
them  to  a  social  festival,  as  a  token  of  respect  and  affec 
tion,  to  which  they  were  justly  entitled. 

15* 


THE  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 


THE  paper,  which  was  long  known  by  this  title,  and 
which,  for  a  time,  enjoyed  a  degree  of  popularity  then 
unprecedented  in  the  case  of  any  one  published  in  a 
country  village,  was  begun  in  April,  1793,  at  Walpole, 
New-Hampshire,  by  Isaiah  Thomas  and  David  Carlisle. 
Carlisle  was  a  native  of  Walpole,  and  had  served  an 
apprenticeship  with  Thomas,  at  Worcester,  which  was 
then  just  completed.  Thomas  furnished  the  printing- 
office  with  its  types  and  press,  and  a  bookstore  with  a 
handsome  assortment  of  books,  and  the  whole  business 
of  printing  and  bookselling  was  carried  on  under  the 
firm  of  Thomas  &t  Carlisle. 

The  paper  was  first  published  with  the  title  of  the 
New-Hampshire  Journal. 

It  soon  gained  a  respectable  circulation  in  New-Hamp 
shire,  and  was  liberally  patronized  in  Vermont,  particu 
larly  in  the  towns  lying  opposite  to  Walpole,  on  Con 
necticut  river.  The  business  intercourse  between  the 
two  states  was  constant,  and  a  similarity  of  taste  and 
habits  existed  among  the  inhabitants  of  both.  The 
New-Hampshire  Journal  was  found,  by  the  people  of 
Vermont,  to  be  a  convenient  paper  for  advertising,  and 
two  or  three  post-routes  were  established  on  that  side  of 
the  river.  There  seemed  to  be  a  propriety  in  giving  to 


DAVID     CARLISLE,    JUN.  175 

the  paper  a  title  expressive  of  the  locality  of  those  to 
whose  accommodation  it  was,  in  some  measure  adapted, 
and,  at  the  commencement  of  the  second  year,  it  was 
called  The  New-Hampshire  and  Vermont  Journal,  or, 
Farmer's  Weekly  Museum.  Carlisle  was  then  the  sole 
editor  of  the  paper;  but  he  received  aid  from  several 
correspondents,  one  of  whom  was  the  Rev.  William 
Fessenden,  the  minister  of  Walpole.  He  wrote  a  long 
series  of  articles  under  the  title  of  the  Religionist. 

In  1795,  Joseph  Dennie,  took  up  his  residence  in 
Walpole,  and  began  to  write  for  the  Museum  that  series 
of  papers,  —  which  did  more  to  extend  his  reputation 
than  all  his  other  literary  efforts,  —  entitled  "  The  Lay 
Preacher."  These  lay  sermons  were  republished  in 
nearly  all  the  newspapers  in  the  nation.  They  found  a 
place  in  the  columns  of  the  city  journals,  sometimes  to 
the  exclusion  of  advertisements,  and,  wherever  a  news 
paper  was  printed  in  a  rural  district,  they  were  welcomed 
by  both  editors  and  readers  as  a  kind  of  "  God-send." 
It  is  believed  that  these  contributions  were,  at  first,  vol 
untary  and  entirely  gratuitous ;  but,  in  the  spring  of 
1796,  —  Carlisle  having  become,  nominally,  the  sole 
proprietor  of  the  paper,  —  an  arrangement  was  made 
with  Dennie,  by  which  the  entire  control  of  it,  —  except 
the  selection  of  news  and  the  advertising  department,  — 
was  transferred  to  him. 

When  the  new  arrangement  with  respect  to  the  pro 
perty  was  made,  at  the  commencement  of  the  fourth 
volume,  the  public  were  informed  of  it,  in  the  following 
Address,  which,  if  not  wholly  written  by  Dennie,  under 
went  his  revision  and  improvements  :  — 


176  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 

TO  THE  PUBLIC. 

Three  years  have  elapsed,  since  the  present  publisher  of  this  paper 
commenced  the  Farmer's  "Weekly  Museum,  in  connection  with  Mr. 
Isaiah  Thomas.  That  gentleman,  from  the  multiplicity  of  his  Massa 
chusetts  business,  has  thought  proper  to  retire  from  the  Press  at  Wai- 
pole;  and  his  late  partner  has  to  regret  the  loss  of  a  valuable  assistant, 
and  that  he  is  no  longer  sheltered  by  his  extensive  reputation. 

But,  though  he  now  finds  himself  floating  alone  on  the  stream  of  life, 
he  is  confident  that  his  PATRONS  will  not  suffer  him  to  sink  without  a 
struggle.  The  generous  encouragement  of  three  years  represses  the 
sigh  of  anxiety ;  and,  though  the  influential  name  of  Thomas  be  taken 
from  the  Museum,  it  will  still  be  perused,  if  meritorious  by  the  industry 
of  its  editor,  or  the  genius  of  its  writers. 

Notwithstanding  the  usual  enterprize  of  youth,  the  publisher  ac 
knowledges  that  in  the  infancy  of  the  paper,  he  doubted  whether  it 
would  reach  maturity  in  a  corner  of  a  young  state,  in  a  corner  where  a 
Printing-Press  was  scarcely  known.  But  agreeable  experience  has  con 
vinced  him  that,  not  without  reason,  have  the  sons  of  New  Hampshire 
been  praised  for  their  love  of  letters,  and  liberal  patronage  of  the  Press 
has  dissipated  each  doubt  of  its  good  fortune. 

Addresses  of  this  nature  are  commonly  pregnant  with  promises, 
which  are  rarely  realized.  Beginning  with  flame,  and  ending  with 
smoke,  most  of  the  periodical  works  of  our  country  have  dwindled 
from  the  first  number.  To  guard  against  a  circumstance  so  disgrace 
ful  shall  be  the  peculiar  care  of  the  publisher.  He  is  convinced  that 
the  industry  of  Franklin  is  a  better  auxiliary  to  an  editor,  than  even 
that  philosopher's  abilities.  Unremitting  industry  he  pledges  himself 
to  manifest;  and,  by  the  frequent  arrivals  of  the  mails,  by  a  weekly 
post  from  Boston,  and  the  aid  of  several  men  of  letters  in  the  vicinity, 
it  will  be  in  his  power  to  announce  early  intelligence,  and  to  decorate 
his  pages  with  useful  and  elegant  literature. 

The  publisher  is  making  arrangements  to  establish  an  extensive  cor 
respondence  with  political  and  literary  characters,  in  various  parts  of 
the  United  States.  He  will  make  it  his  care  to  procure  the  best  written 
pamphlets  on  "  the  transient  topic  of  the  times,"  European  magazines 
and  reviews,  and,  in  general,  such  books  as  will  furnish  him  with  ex 
tracts  curious  and  novel.  Every  thing,  that  will  promote  the  substantial 
interests  of  the  yeomanry,  every  thing,  that  will  amuse  the  imagination, 
enrich  the  head,  or  improve  the  heart,  shall  ever  hold  a  front  place  in 
the  Farmer's  Museum. 

The  political  creed  of  this  paper  has  already  been  so  clearly  mani 
fested,  that  perhaps  it  is  superfluous  for  the  publisher  to  avow  the  firm- 


DAVID    CARLISLE,    JUN.  177 

ness  of  his  Federalism.  Happy  to  imitate  the  loyal  spirit  of  the  coun 
try  that  cherishes  him,  he  will  ever  support  the  constituted  authorities 
of  America.  Implicitly  believing  that  "  our  officers  are  peace  and  our 
exactors  righteousness,"  he  is  willing  to  swear  that  he  will  defend  the 
admirable  constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  expose  the  nefarious 
schemes  of  the  disorganizer  and  the  Jacobin.  Rejoicing  under  the 
mild  but  dignified  administration  of  WASHINGTON,  he  rests  satisfied 
with  the  genuine  and  rational  liberty  of  this  country,  and  will  not  make 
a  voyage  of  enthusiasm  to  France,  in  quest  of  a  fairer  goddess  or  a 
more  perfect  freedom. 

Ardently  grateful  for  the  past,  and  hopeful  of  the  future,  he  thanks 
his  numerous  customers  for  former  smiles,  and  deems  himself  entitled 
to  a  continuance  of  favor,  if  he  persevere  in  attempts  to  deserve  it.  As 
he  has  received  manifold  obligations  from  the  citizens  of  Vermont,  who 
have  manifested  most  liberal  regard  for  the  Press,  by  fostering  a  paper 
not  published  within  their  own  territory,  it  would  be  the  extreme  of 
ingratitude  to  be  careless  of  their  interest.  He  shall  therefore  view  it 
as  a  matter  of  moment  to  adapt  his  paper,  as  far  as  possible,  to  their 
meridian.  A  condensed  statement  of  their  politics,  abstracts  of  the 
acts  of  their  Legislature,  and  every  thing  relevant  to  the  sale  or  the 
taxation  of  their  lands,  claim,  and  shall  receive,  a  place  in  his  Vermont 
Journal. 

The  publisher  having  thus  manifested  his  gratitude,  to  his  partner 
and  his  patrons,  explained  his  politics,  and  described  his  resources,  now 
invites  those,  who  cultivate  and  adorn  the  beautiful  banks  of  the  Con 
necticut,  to  come,  see,  and  subscribe.  His  object  is  not  to  exhibit  a  mere 
gazette  of  dry  detail  or  doleful  narrative  of  bloody  murder,  but  a  Lit 
erary,  no  less  than  a  political  vehicle.  The  Walpole  Post  shall  some 
times  knock  at  the  door  of  his  customers, 

"  News  from  all  nations  lumbering  at  his  back," 

and  sometimes  he  shall  be  freighted  with  only  a  light  load  of  Literature ; 
the  short  sermons  of  the  LAY  PREACHER,  the  fantastic  FARRAGO,  and 
small  parcels  of  the  fancy  goods  of  Messrs.  COLON  &  SPONDEE. 

DAVID  CARLISLE,  JDN. 

During  this  year,  the  Lay  Preacher  was  pretty  con 
stant  in  the  weekly  production  of  his  labors ;  and  he 
was  aided  in  his  task  as  an  editor,  by  Royal  Tyler, 
(then  a  lawyer  in  Guilford,  Vermont,)  who  furnished  all 
those  agreeable  and  humorous  articles,  purporting  to  be 
"  From  the  Shop  of  Messrs.  Colon  &  Spondee." 


178 

Thomas  Green  Fessenden,  —  who  graduated  at  Dart 
mouth  College,  in  August,  was  the  author  of  sundry 
pieces  of  humorous  political  doggerel.  The  motto  of 
the  Museum  was,  — "  Ho,  every  one,  that  thirsteth  for 
novelty  —  come  !  " 

At  the  beginning  of  the  fifth  volume,  April,  1797,  the 
titles  of  the  paper  were  transposed,  so  as  to  read, — 
"  The  Farmer's  Weekly  Museum  :  New- Hampshire 
and  Vermont  Journal ; "  and  the  last  year's  motto  gave 
place  to  the  following  lines  from  John  Bunyan :  — 

Wouldst  thou  remember 

From  New- Year's  day  to  the  last  of  December, 
Then  read 

Sundry  improvements  were  made  in  the  typography 
and  size  of  the  paper,  and  in  the  arrangement  of  the 
contents,  as  proposed  in  the  following  notice 

TO  PATRONS. 

The  Editor,  flattered,  animated  by  patronage,  hastens  to  display  more 
than  verbal  gratitude.  He  presents  this  number  of  the  Museum  on 
paper  of  royal  size ;  and  has  the  pleasure  to  announce  to  his  subscrib 
ers  a  weekly  miscellany,  as  ample  as  the  city  papers.  The  different  arti 
cles  are  shown  in  a  new,  and,  he  hopes,  neat  array.  Those  speculations, 
strictly  pertinent  to  the  Belles  Lettres,  he  has  arranged,  as  distinctly  as 
possible,  in  the  last  page,  under  the  title  of  "  The  DESSERT."  A  sim 
ple  device,  emblematical  of  wine,  fruit,  and  flowers,  explained  by  a  very 
concise  Latin,  and  a  poetical  English  motto,  sufficiently  indicates  the 
general  design.  Politics,  Biography,  Economics,  Morals,  and  Daily  De 
tail,  will  be  restrained  to  the  first  pages.  Under  the  local  head  of  the 
paper,  the  reader  will  regularly  find  a  compressed  statement  of  foreign 
and  domestic  occurrences,  by  the  title  of  "  Incidents  abroad  "  and  "  Inci 
dents  at  Home."  Paragraphs,  with  appropriate  heads,  are  to  succeed 
next,  containing  the  intelligence,  or  the  jest,  of  the  hour. 

The  Editor  hopes  that  the  varied  matter,  and  cheapness  of  the 
Museum,  will  induce  some  to  compose  and  some  to  subscribe  for  a 
paper,  whose  object  is  sedulously  to  improve,  and  harmlessly  to 
amuse. 


DAVID    CARLISLE,    JUN.  179 

As  a  literary  periodical,  the  Museum  had  now  no 
rival.  Its  circulation  extended  from  Maine  to  Georgia, 
and  large  packages,  filled,  weekly,  an  extra  mail-bag,  to 
supply  the  subscribers  in  New- York,  Philadelphia, 
Charleston,  and  intervening  cities. 

For  three  years  succeeding  this  arrangement,  the 
Museum  was  more  richly  supplied  with  original  commu 
nications  of  a  literary  character  than  any  other  paper, 
that  had  then,  or  has  since,  been  published  in  the  United 
States.  "  Colon  &  Spondee  "  came  out,  almost  every 
week,  with  new  varieties  of  their  small  wares  ;  —  T.  G. 
Fessenden  produced  his  political  lampoons,  under  the 
signature  of  "  Simon  Spunkey  ;  "  —  Isaac  Story,  opened 
a  shop  with  the  sign  of  "  Peter  Quince,"  and  endeavored 
to  rival  Peter  Pindar  in  his  humorous  style  of  versifica 
tion  ;  "  Common  Sense  in  Dishabille  "  was  furnished  by 
David  Everett;  —  and  beside  these,  "The  Meddler," 
"  The  Hermit,"  "  The  Rural  Wanderer,"  "  Peter  Pen 
cil,"  "  Beri  Hesdin,"  and  numerous  other  writers,  whose 
contributions  I  am  not  able  to  assign  to  the  authors  by 
name,  enriched  the  Museum,  and  gave  to  it  an  unprece 
dented  popularity.  Dennie,  however,  was  not  merely 
the  responsible  editor,  but  was  the  enlivening  spirit, 
around  which  the  others  congregated,  and  to  which  they 
made  their  obeisance  as  the  sheaves  of  Jacob's  sons,  of 
old,  did  to  the  sheaf  of  Joseph.  The  selected  articles  were- 
of  his  choosing.  He  gathered  the  exotics,  and  his  criti 
cism  stamped  them  as  genuine  products  of  the  garden  of 
genius.  The  weekly  summary  of  "  Incidents  Abroad  " 
and  "  Incidents  at  Home,"  which  was  not  the  least 
attractive  feature  of  the  Museum,  was  prepared  by  him ; 
and  though  this  feature  of  the  Museum  has  had  many 


180  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 

imitators,  I  know  of  none,  which  can  claim  any  near  re 
lationship  or  striking  resemblance.  The  notes  "  To 
Readers  and  Correspondents,"  make,  of  themselves,  an 
amusing  department.  These  were  also  the  sole  compo 
sition  of  Dennie,  and  were  frequently  written  in  the 
printing-office,  and  extended  or  contracted  in  length,  so 
as  precisely  to  fit  the  space,  in  which  the  last  column  of 
the  form  might  be  deficient  of  matter. 

In  less  than  a  year  from  the  time  when  the  Museum 
put  on  this  new  and  promising  aspect,  Carlisle  became 
involved  in  embarrassments,  and  the  property  fell  back 
into  the  possession  of  Thomas.  In  noticing  this  change, 
the  Editor  said,  —  "  Hence  it  may  be  easily  concluded 
that  its  establishment  is  liberal  and  permanent,  and  that 
no  effort  of  enterprize  will  be  wanting  to  render  it  wor 
thy  of  general  favor.  The  Editor  will  still  attempt,  by 
variegated  Literature  and  pure  Politics,  to  interest  the 
numerous  readers,  by  whose  patronage  he  is  honored. 
But  he  must  be  permitted  to  remark,  that  a  paper  so 
cheap,  so  closely  printed,  and  so  free  from  advertise 
ments,  must,  to  support  its  present  reputation,  attach  not 
only  copious  subscriptions,  but  punctual  payment.  Semi 
annual  anticipation  of  the  dues  of  this  paper,  an  aug 
mentation  of  its  subscribers,  prompt  and  generous  settle 
ments,  will  animate  and  retain  the  conductor  in  his  course. 
Like  every  other  industrious  workman,  he  has  a  right  to 
bread,  and  sometimes,  to  write  "  all  cheerily,"  he  ought 
to  have  wine.  The  incumbrance  of  excessive  wealth  is 
scarcely  to  be  dreaded  by  an  author,  but  for  the  decent 
recompense  of  literary  labor  he  has  an  importunate 
claim.  If  the  public  will  merely  compensate  that  labor, 
the  task  shall  be  fulfilled  by  the  Editor,  with  his  best 
possible  exertions." 


ALEXANDER    THOMAS.  181 

From  this  it  may  be  concluded,  that  the  paying  pa 
tronage  of  the  paper  was  not  equal  to  the  desires  of  the 
editor ;  and  that  his  expectations  of  better  support  were 
not  realized  in  their  fullest  extent,  is  evident  from  the 
incidents  and  changes,  which  soon  after  followed.  Alex 
ander  Thomas,  a  relative  of  Isaiah  Thomas,  had  been 
taken  into  the  partnership  in  the  Bookstore  connected 
with  the  Printing-Office,  and  about  the  first  of  June, 
1798,  took  upon  himself  the  charge  of  conducting  the 
paper,  while  Dennie  took  a  recess  from  his  labors  as 
Lay  Preacher,  though  he  continued  to  write  summaries, 
criticisms,  and  "paragraphs  with  appropriate  heads.' ' 
On  his  return  from  a  visit  to  Boston,  which  had  been 
extended  somewhat  beyond  the  proposed  term  of  ab 
sence,  he  saluted  his  readers  in  a  sprightly  Lay  Sermon, 
in  which  are  the  following  paragraphs :  — 

'•'•Here  am  7,  for  THOU  DIDST  CALL  ME." 

With  a  voice,  0  Public,  so  finely  modulated,  so  gratefully  soothing 
to  the  ear  of  an  ambitious  author,  that  he  hearkens  to  the  summons, 
and  is  actually  inditing  a  sermon,  apologetical  for  laziness  and  neglect 
of  his  flock. 

But  who  is  there  among  the  sons  of  men,  of  such  self-denying  humor, 
that  will  not,  sometimes,  flee  from  confinement  and  his  cottage  to  breathe 
a  little  fresh  air,  and  ramble,  yea,  run,  a  moment,  from  the  drudgery  of 
methodized  life  ? 

The  Clergyman,  fatigued  with  Flavel,  and  panting  under  the  unusual 
load  of  heavy  sermons,  asks  from  the  parish  a  respite;  and,  as  he 
cheerily  urges  his  pacer,  plodding  and  slow,  like  his  owner,  sings,  in 
stead  of  David's  Psalms,  a  hymn  to  the  goddess  of  leisure. 

The  Lawyer,  choked  with  the  dust  of  courts,  and  deafened  by  the 
gibberish  of  the  laws,  canters  from  the  circuit ;  and,  placid  at  his  desk, 
suffers  not  a  plea  in  bar  to  obstruct  the  current  of  his  yawning  humor. 

The  Doctor,  too,  and  the  Merchant,  in  gaping  hours,  scorn  the  recipe 
and  the  invoice,  and  idly  dream  of  subjects  more  pleasant  than  subjects 
consumptive,  or  subjects  commercial. 

VOL.    II.  16 


182 

Many  circumstances  may,  at  any  stage  of  his  course,  command  a 
Lay  Preacher  to  rest  from  his  labors.  Like  a  Bishop  Watson,  or  Por- 
teus,  he  is  not  invested  with  holy  lawn,  to  inspire  awe  in  the  vulgar ; 
nor  is  he,  like  them,  brilliant  and  learned,  to  excite  the  admiration  of 
the  wise.  Reflecting,  in  sober  hours,  on  the  obscurity  of  his  station, 
and  the  simplicity  of  his  lessons,  he  has  perceived  that  many  object  to 
a  sermon  from  the  woods,  and  that  many  exclaim,  "  a  wooden  sermon ! " 
Moreover,  in  that  narrow  circle,  which  may  justly  be  denominated 
my  listening  parishioners,  Who  hath  believed  our  report?  Neither 
by  smiles  nor  by  frowns,  neither  by  grand  precepts,  nor  merry  allusion, 
has  the  Lay  Preacher  driven  the  rake  from  his  mistress,  nor  the  reveler 
from  his  wine.  Men  persevere  in  tracing  the  path,  which  passion  has 
chosen,  or  habit  has  worn  smooth ;  and  the  monitory  sermon,  if  read,  is 
soon  forgotten. 

To  those,  who,  from  the  intimacy  or  the  partiality  of  friendship,  are 
anxious  that  my  weekly  advice  should  again  be  given,  and  to  the  pub 
lic,  who  have  condescended  once  or  twice  to  ask  for  me,  I  will  narrate 
the  private  motives,  which  have  persuaded  me  to  be  silent  for  a  year. 

In  the  first  place,  I  honestly  declare,  with  wonted  frankness,  that 
many  evil  spirits  have  domineered  over  my  mind,  and  that  Laziness, 
Spleen,  and  Ill-humor  have  been  too  frequently  suffered  to  lock  up  my 
quills,  and  to  overset  my  ink-horn. 

Like  a  venerable  predecessor,  I  have  been,  during  the  above  period, 
"  in  joumeyings  often,  in  weariness  and  painfulness,  and  in  watchings ; '' 
all  which  are  unfriendly  to  preaching ;  nor  do  I  believe  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury  himself  could  indite  a  pastoral  letter,  or  make  a  visita 
tion  charge,  successfully,  under  such  unfavorable  circumstances. 

He,  who  resolves  to  speculate,  flies,  in  conformity  to  the  suggestion 
of  Horace,  to  the  grove,  and,  in  a  lonely  situation,  converses  with  few 
besides  his  books  and  himself.  But,  if  an  author  keep  no  other  com 
pany,  he  will  not  be  long  qualified  to  give  interest  and  novelty  to  his 
researches.  Every  line  will  savor  of  the  lamp,  and  every  page  will  be 
mouldy,  by  the  damp  air  of  a  monkish  cell.  Hence,  to  write  what  the 
world  will  gaily  read,  it  is  necessary,  sometimes,  for  a  man  of  letters 
to  obey  the  advice  of  the  poet,  Green,  and  make 

"  Trips  to  the  TOWN,  life  to  amuse, 
To  purchase  books,  and  hear  the  news, 
To  see  old  friends,  brush  off  the  clown, 
And  quicken  taste." 

Unless  he  occasionally  go  to  the  great  city,  and  forsake  his  closet  for  a 
saunter  in  "  vanity  fair,"  how  could  a  Lay  Preacher  correctly  describe 


JOSEPH    DENNIE.  183 

or  justly  censure  fashionable  follies,  and  the  blameful  luxury  of  a  capi 
tal  ?  To  ridicule,  with  point  and  effect,  the  fantastic  foppery  of  dress, 
one  must  actually  look  down  the  street,  or  through  the  coffee-house, 
and  mark  the  peacock  beau,  sporting  his  "Joseph's  coat,"  or  jockey 
pantaloons.  To  laugh  at  gowns  without  a  waist,  or  the  brick-dust  hue 
of  coquelicot  riband,  the  writer  should  at  least  drink  tea  in  the  Tontine 
buildings,  and  go,  one  morning,  with  giggling  girls  to  that  great  box  of 
millinery,  the  shop  of  Mrs.  Milliquet. 

Now,  it  scarcely,  from  these  premises,  need  be  inferred,  that,  to  gather 
materials  is  the  work  of  one  day,  and  to  put  them  into  form  is  reserved 
to  the  next.  It  is  unreasonable  to  expect  that  an  essayist  should  be 
seen  constantly  with  a  pen  in  his  hand.  His  effusions  would  become 
wretchedly  trite,  if  he  were  not  permitted  to  go  abroad,  searching  for 
some  new  object,  or  some  new  face,  to  serve  as  fresh  topics  for  specula 
tion.  While  I  was  mingling  in  the  crowd  on  'change,  lounging  in 
booksellers'  shops,  arguing  in  a  coffee-house,  or  chatting  with  sensible 
women  round  a  supper-table,  I  was,  in  fact,  composing  Lay  Preachers. 
The  process,  though  invisible,  still  continued.  I  entered  hints  in  my 
note-book,  though  I  did  not  expand  them  in  the  Museum ;  and  kept, 
for  future  use,  the  fruit  of  my  observations,  as  my  prudent  and  tender 
mother  used  to  store  for  me  autumnal  russetings  to  bless  my  infant  pal 
ate  in  the  scarce  and  the  spring  time. 

But  though  for  a  year  the  Lay  Preacher's  desk  has  been  shut,  yet  his 
books  have  been  open  and  his  thoughts  awake.  Having  seen  some 
novel  objects,  and  read  many  curious  tomes  in  the  course  of  his  vaca 
tion,  perhaps  he  is  qualified  to  resume  his  labors  with  some  degree  of 
spirit.  He  has  meditated  not  merely  the  works  of  the  fathers,  but  the 
lighter  productions  of  the  sons;  and  perused,  laboriously,  many  a  heavy 
book,  with  a  view,  by  studious  chemistry  to  extract  some  essence  to  re 
lieve  the  spirits  of  his  readers.  At  any  rate,  to  continue,  to  the  end  of 
this  sermon,  the  same  egotism,  with  which  it  began,  he  is  determined, 
as  this  mode  of  writing  is  approved  by  those,  whom  it  is  his  ardent 
wish  to  please,  to  lay  aside  every  weight  of  interest,  which  might  bias 
him  to  more  gainful  occupations  5  to  lay  aside  that  sin  of  indolence, 
which  doth  so  easily  beset  an  invalid  and  an  author,  and  to  run  with 
patience  the  race,  that  is  set  before  him. 

For  three  or  four  weeks  succeeding  the  appearance  of 
this  apology,  the  Lay  Preacher  performed  the  promised 
service,  and  then  again  became  silent.  In  the  beginning 


184  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 

of  November,  in  one  of  his  notes  to  "  Readers  and  Cor 
respondents,"  he  said, — 

The  Lay  Preacher  has  not  locked  up  his  pulpit  door.  Absorbed  in 
the  perusal  of  church  history,  and  the  holy  life  of  Hilarion,  the  Her 
mit,  he  has,  with  the  absence  of  an  author,  forgotten  to  write  with  peri 
odical  regularity.  He  will  soon  open  his  Notes,  and  then 

"  Hear  him  but  reason  in  divinity, 

And,  all  admiring,  with  an  inward  wish, 
You  would  desire  that  he  Avere  made  a  prelate." 
Business  is  rather  dull  at  "  the  Shop  of  Colon  and  Spondee."     Cus 
tomers  are  few,  and  Mr.  Weiser,  the  old  tenant,  rings  his  bason  about 
their  ears.    He  tosses  about  his  powder  with  such  an  air  of  graceful 
ness,  and  brandishes  his  keen  razor  with  such  dexterity,  that  the  part 
ners  think  seriously  of  quitting  the  premises. 

The  Editor  implores  his  correspondents  to  afford  him  some  literary 
and  political  aid.  He  is  timorous,  lest  his  readers  should  be  nauseated 
with  similar  dishes,  cooked  by  the  same  hand.  Associates  will,  in  the 
language  of  recruiting,  meet  with  kind  treatment. 

Wanted,  a  bale  of  American  Biography ;  a  quantity  of  Quips  and 
Cranks ;  a  load  of  Wit,  and  a  few  bundles  from  the  Parnassian  Shrub 
bery;  pointed  Darts  of  Criticism;  and  above  all,  during  the  dreary 
dullness  of  November,  two  or  three  genial  sunshine  days  of  American 
Patronage. 

A  month  passed  away  and  a  note  to  the  reader  said, 
—  "Next  week,  if  the  source  of  all  mental  exertion 
give  the  invalid  and  sluggish  author  leave,  the  Lay 
Preacher  will  take  up  the  neglected  thread  of  his  specu 
lations."  "Next  week,"  (December  10,)  he  fulfilled 
this  conditional  promise,  and  published  a  sermon  from 
the  text,  —  "  She  maJceth  herself  coverings  of  tapestry  ; 
her  clothing  is  silk  and  purple."  The  whole  article, — 
two  columns  and  a  half,  —  was  a  critique  on  the  ro 
mances  of  Mrs.  Radcliffe."  Nothing  more  is  seen  of  the 
Lay  Preacher  till  the  first  of  April,  1799.  But,  in  the 
mean  time  (February  11,)  a  still  more  importunate  ad 
dress  to  the  public,  indicates  discontent  and  solicitude, 


JOSEPH    DENNIE.  185 

and  a  persevering  ambition  in  his  favorite  pursuit.  It  is 
entitled  to  a  place  here,  as  an  exhibition  of  the  discour 
aging  reminiscences  and  flattering  hopes,  which  alter 
nately  affect  the  minds  of  many  other  editors,  as  they 
did  the  aspiring  spirit  of  Dennie  :  — 
TO  THE  PUBLIC. 

The  well  wishers  to  literary  exertion  are  once  more  warned,  that  such 
is  the  care,  expense  and  fatigue,  in  conducting  a  Gazette  upon  the  plan 
of  the  FARMER'S  MUSEUM,  that  to  preserve  its  spirit,  and  ensure  its 
continuance,  frequent  communications  must  be  made,  new  subscriptions 
must  be  added,  and  the  charges  of  the  paper  punctually  paid.  If  men 
of  letters  fail  to  cooperate  with  the  Editor,  one  of  these  consequences 
must  ensue.  Either,  from  the  limited  faculties  of  the  human  mind; 
from  lassitude;  from  that  hypochondria,  which  generally  infests  the 
sedentary  studious;  or  from  real  indisposition,  the  little  that  an  un 
assisted  and  imperfect  individual  can  produce,  will  be  weak  and  stale ; 
or  if,  in  a  laborious  hour,  he  produce  much,  and  cover  his  columns  with 
his  own  effusions,  an  intolerable  sameness  appears,  and  his  miscellany 
is  defrauded  of  its  very  essentials,  Novelty,  Variety  and  Use.  If  men 
fail  to  encourage  the  circulation  of  this  paper,  or  tardily,  or  grudgingly, 
or  never  pay  the  small  sum,  for  which  it  is  sold,  such  are  the  various 
expenses  attached  to  the  establishment,  it  is  impossible  it  should  be  per 
manent.  From  an  experience  of  four  laborious  years,  in  this  depart 
ment,  the  Editor  is  convinced  that  without  a  very  flowing  subscription, 
without  assiduous  patronage,  without  the  countenance  of  the  first  charac 
ters  in  the  country,  without  much  original  literary  matter,  and  without 
a  generous  premium,  periodically  paid,  no  really  useful  and  diversified 
paper  can  be  supported  in  America.  The  Farmer's  Museum,  which  is 
in  fact  a  Magazine  in  a  minor  form,  is  composed  of  many  originals, 
procured  by  pecuniary  compensation,  and  of  selections  from  English 
Journals,  Reviews  and  Magazines,  purchased  in  large  numbers,  at  an 
expensive  rate.  The  Post  Office  tax  for  many  of  the  essays,  communi 
cations,  and  letters,  pertinent  and  essential  to  the  paper,  is  frequent,  and 
often  heavy.  The  expenses  of  paper,  and  other  rude  materials  in  the 
hands  of  the  printer,  exceed  twenty  dollars  per  week ;  and  the  folding 
and  directing  of  the  papers,  for  distant  subscribers,  demand  considerable 
time  and  cash,  for  which  the  Proprietors  of  this  paper,  make  no  addi 
tional  charge  to  their  customers ;  though  in  other  offices,  particularly 
at  the  south  ward,  a  sum,  equal  to  two  thirds  of  the  whole  price  of  the 
Museum  is  required  for  this  subaltern  service  alone.  From  these  state- 
16* 


186  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 

merits  it  must  appear  evident,  to  the  considerate  and  the  generous, 
among  the  readers  of  this  paper,  that  if  it  acquire  not  many  friends, 
and  if  its  price  be  not  paid  with  a  merchant's  punctuality,  "confusion 
and  every  evil  work,"  among  our  types,  "  must  ensue."  With  much 
watching,  and  with  continued  exertion,  the  Conductor  of  this  paper 
has,  for  a  period,  not  brief  in  continuance,  and  certainly  not  trivial  in 
value,  as  it  respects  an  important  stage  of  human  life,  endeavored  to 
disseminate  among  his  countrymen  literary  articles,  in  a  cheap  and 
familiar  form.  Notwithstanding  the  respectable  assistance  he  has  re 
ceived,  the  expense  incurred,  the  pains  employed,  and  enthusiasm  exer 
cised,  in  this  behalf,  he  is  sorry  to  declare  that  two  of  his  earlier  attempts 
in  this  line,  far  from  being  remunerated,  or  even  smiled  upon,  involved 
him  in  debt,  and  that  for  the  present  undertaking  of  a  large,  and  he 
may  add  useful  paper,  at  a  lower  price  than  any  other  of  the  size  and 
quality  of  letter  press  in  the  United  States,  he  is  so  moderately,  not  to 
say  penuriously,  requited,  that,  were  it  not  for  an  aversion  to  relinquish 
literature,  however  neglected,  he  should  instantly  engage  in  some  of  the 
coarser  vocations  of  life,  and  interdict  himself  from  pen  and  ink  forever. 
Public  encouragement  will  rouse  him  from  lethargy,  will  dispel  despond 
ence,  will  incite  the  Preacher  to  sermonize,  the  Poet  to  versify,  and 
Literary  Labor  to  "  work  willingly  with  her  hands."  Failure  of  patron 
age  and  payment  will  close  the  Museum,  and  crush  the  fondly  fostered 
hopes  of  an  anxious  Editor. 

From  this  period  to  the  first  of  April  much  originality  shall  be  ex 
hibited  to  our  readers.  A  number  of  periodical  effusions,  of  a  sprightly 
cast,  will  appear ;  a  bird's  eye  view  of  Foreign  literature  may  be  pretty 
generally  found,  under  the  local  head  of  the  paper ;  and  curious  Biogra 
phy  and  Anecdote  will  continue  to  diversify  its  columns. 

Provided  the  Editor  can  meet  a  recompense  barely  sufficient  to  alle 
viate  the  labor,  and  equal  the  expense,  he  proposes  to  make  improve 
ments  in  the  Museum  on  the  first  of  April,  at  which  time  a  new  volume 
of  this  paper  commences.  By  an  economy  of  the  press,  the  quantity 
of  matter  shall  be  increased,  some  new  types  shall  be  employed,  certain 
decorations  attempted,  new  writers  engaged,  and  more  originality  pro 
duced.  The  title  of  the  paper  will  be  changed  to  the  FARMER'S  MU 
SEUM  and  LAY  PREACHER'S  GAZETTE  ;  and  from  that  time  the  lec 
tures  and  sermons  of  that  writer  will  frequently  appear.  A  series  of 
Critical  Speculations,  principally  upon  American  works,  will  be  pro 
cured,  and  an  article,  under  the  head  of  "  Federal  Biography,"  contain 
ing  authentic  anecdotes  of  the  principal  personages  in  the  United  States, 
will  be  occasionally  introduced.  This  last  article,  if  well  executed,  will, 
from  its  utility  and  interest,  be  Avorth  treble  the  price  of  the  paper.  To 


JOSEPH    DENNIE.  187 

realize  this  plan,  which,  if  accomplished,  will  render  the  Museum  as 
valuable  as  is  possible  for  a  work  in  such  a  fugitive  form,  Patronage  and 
subscribers  must  increase.  The  Editor  has  a  right  to  declare,  that  a  Ga 
zette,  embracing  the  useful  arid  amusing  objects  above  indicated,  is 
entitled  to  copious  subscription,  general  currency,  and  a  liberal  reward. 
If  the  public  will  cherish  these  efforts,  the  Editor  pledges  himself  for 
the  satisfactory  discharge  of  his  duties.  On  the  contrary,  in  proportion 
to  popular  neglect  and  parsimony,  the  spirit  of  the  paper  will  evaporate, 
the  columns  will  grow  dull,  and  gradually  merit  the  shameful  title  of 
the  most  stupid  production  in  the  United  States. 

How  truly  may  it  be  said  of  Dennie,  — 

The  bounding  pulse,  the  languid  limb, 

The  changing  spirit's  rise  and  fall,  — 
We  know  that  these  were  felt  by  him, 

For  they  are  felt  by  all,  — 

all  editors,  at  least,  who  have  a  proper  feeling  of  their 
responsibilities,  and  a  proper  ambition  to  carry  out  the 
honorable  destiny  of  their  profession.  In  looking  over  a 
file  of  the  Museum,  after  a  lapse  of  near  fifty  years,  and 
revivifying  my  personal  recollections  of  Dennie,  it  would 
not  be  possible  to  suppress  a  token  of  admiration  of  his 
assiduity  and  perseverance,  and  a  sigh  of  regret  that  his 
susceptible  nature  was  so  often  compelled  to  suffer  mor 
tification  and  disappointment,  where  he  expected  sym 
pathy  and  encouragement.  A  few  weeks  before  the 
time  appointed  to  present  the  proposed  improvements  in 
the  mechanical  appearance  of  the  Museum,  Dennie 
said,  —  "  Among  other  important  improvements,  an 
American  Biography  will  occasionally  appear.  The 
'  Shop  of  Colon  and  Spondee  '  will  not  be  shut  up  :  The 
partners  have  obtained  a  tolerable  credit  with  the  house 
of  Apollo  &L  Co.  and  both  the  stock  in  trade,  and  the 
demand  on  the  literary  market,  indicate  nothing  like 
bankruptcy.  The  Lay  Preacher  will  sometimes  offici 
ate,  and  continue  to  sow  the  seed  of  good  doctrine, 


188 

though,  as  usual,  it  should  fall  by  the  way-side,  or  be 
choked  with  thorns.  To  ensure  success  to  these  honest 
and  earnest  efforts  to  please  the  reading  part  of  the  com 
munity,  information  and  assistance  from  men  of  learning 
and  taste,  is,  with  persevering  importunity,  required. 
Memorials  of  American  personages  of  note,  original 
poetry,  scientific  researches,  notices  of  new  books  and 
pamphlets,  and  witty  anecdotes,  are  sought  for  as  for 
hidden  treasures.  All,  or  any  of  these  articles  will  be, 
to  the  Editor,  the  pearl  of  great  price.  The  Editor 
sanguinely  hopes  that  inattention  to  these  particulars 
will  not  compel  him  to  exclaim,  with  the  neglected 

Milton,  — 

Alas  !  what  boots  it,  with  incessant  care, 
To  tend  the  homely,  slighted  Author's  trade  ? 
Were  it  not  better  done,  as  others  use, 
To  sport  with  Amaryllis  in  the  shade, 
Or  with  the  tangles  of  Nerea's  hair?  " 

At  length  the  first  of  April  came,  and  with  it,  the 
"  Farmer's  Museum,  or  Lay  Preacher's  Gazette,"  in  a 
new  and  promising  dress.  The  Lay  Preacher  himself 
honored  the  occasion  and  the  day  with  one  of  his  best 
sermons,  and  which  is  too  sensible  a  piece  of  admonition 
not  to  be  admitted  among  the  specimens  of  his  genius  :  — 

"  Oh  foolish  Gallatians,  who  hath  bewitched  you  ?  " 
Horace,  in  a  facetious  satire,  alluding  to  a  common  custom  among 
the  Romans,  who,  during  the  Saturnalia,  or  Christmas  holidays  of  old 
time,  permitted  every  slave  to  be  sovereign  and  saucy,  bids  his  servant, 
Davus,  to  recollect  the  good  natured  law  in  mitigation  of  servitude,  and 
to  avail  himself  of  the  licentiousness  of  December.  The  poet,  though 
apprized  of  the  consequences  of  such  indulgence,  which  would  infalli 
bly  produce  either  scurrilous  language,  harsh  reproof,  or  unpleasant 
instruction,  satisfies  himself  by  simply  stating  the  sanction  of  antiquity. 
It  was  the  will  of  his  ancestors  ;  it  was  an  old  usage ;  and,  therefore, 
Davus  had  a  title  to  be  insolent  and  could  plead  prescription  in  favor 
of  the  Rights  of  slaves. 


JOSEPH    DENNIE.  189 

Customs,  equally  whimsical,  have  prevailed  in  every  age.  If  the 
Eomans  had  their  Saturnalia,  the  chimney-sweepers  of  England  con 
sider  May-day  as  their  own  ;  and  the  first  of  April  is  a  festal  season  to 
the  whole  body  corporate  of  Fools. 

As  by  a  curious  coincidence  of  circumstances,  the  renewal  of  my 
lay  labors  occurs  on  All  Fools'  day,  as  it  is  merrily  styled  in  the  Al 
manac,  it  will  not  be  impertinent  to  say,  in  my  concise  manner,  a  word 
or  two,  concerning  this  singular  festival. 

It  is  Avell  known,  that  I  am  a  most  laborious  examiner  of  books,  new 
and  old ;  but,  in  the  whole  course  of  a  long  life,  devoted  to  study,  I 
never  could  discover  the  origin  of  the  custom  of  elaborately  making  a 
fool,  only  in  the  spring  of  the  year.  My  love  of  investigation,  and  my 
zeal  for  the  honor  and  dignity  of  human  nature,  have  induced  me  to 
inquire,  most  anxiously,  why  this  thing  was  so.  The  shades  of  many 
departed  candles,  three  worn  out  lamps,  and  a  bookseller's  bill,  both 
long  and  unpaid,  can  attest  the  time  I  have  consumed,  and  the  musty 
folios  I  have  read,  in  the  progress  of  this  laudable  inquisitiveness. 
Four  times  I  peeped  into  the  magical  volumes  of  Cornelius  Agrippa ; 
twice  I  have  consulted  that  prying  author,  who  wrote  of  arts  lost  and 
found ;  I  have  looked  for  the  first  April  fool  day,  by  the  obscure  light 
of  Jacob  Behmen's  "  Aurora ; "  I  have  "  read  Alexander  Eoss  over ;  " 
and,  many  times,  when  at  college,  did  I  raise  the  devil  to  satisfy  my 
curiosity  in  this  behalf.  All  this  watching  and  toil,  like  much  of  my 
labor  of  life,  has  proved  ineffectual ;  and  the  day  of  fools  still  wants 
its  successful  antiquarian,  though  it  has  at  length  found  its  preacher. 

Relinquishing,  therefore,  all  ideas  of  discovering  the  origin  of  this 
carnival  time  for  fools,  I  must  satisfy  myself,  and  attempt  to  satisfy  my 
readers,  with  a  view  of  its  rites  and  ceremonies ;  or  a  sarcasm  upon 
these  vernal  worshipers  of  that  simple  being,  exalted,  by  Erasmus, 
into  a  goddess,  and  styled,  in  his  elegant  latinity,  "Moria,"  or  the 
deity  of  weak  ones. 

On  the  first  of  every  April,  there  appears  to  be  a  general  combina 
tion  to  expose  the  common  weakness  of  humanity.  The  philosopher 
and  the  idiot ;  the  high  and  the  low ;  the  bond  man  and  free,  are  all 
equally  exposed  to  the  juggling  tricks  of  the  priesthood  of  Folly.  All 
the  "  idly  busy  "  stand  at  the  door  arid  the  lattice,  and,  like  the  wisdom 
of  Solomon,  cry  "  whoso  is  simple,  let  him  turn  in  hither."  From  the 
many  passages,  interspersed  through  the  writings  of  this  prince,  on  the 
subject  of  folly,  I  am  persuaded  that  he  knew  more  of  the  first  of 
April,  than,  in  his  pride  of  learning,  he  chose  to  acknowledge.  Indeed, 
in  the  course  of  my  Biblical  researches,  I  once  conjectured  that  the  day, 
the  amorous  monarch  enrolled  in  his  list  of  pleasures  three  hundred 


190 

wives  and  seven  hundred  concubines,  was  the  earliest  epoch  of  All 
Fools'  day;  and  that  his  noted  aphorism,  of  "the  mouth  of  fools  feed- 
eth  on  foolishness,"  was  dictated  on  the  first  of  April. 

One  cannot  help  smiling  at  the  levity  or  absurdity  of  man,  in  conse 
crating  a  day  to  the  ludicrous  purpose  of  striving  to  metamorphose 
into  an  idiot  every  neighbor,  however  stored  with  wisdom,  or  preg 
nant  with  wit.  At  other  seasons,  we  discern  no  formal  process  for 
exposing  the  general  weakness ;  on  every  other  holiday,  each  one  is 
allowed  to  possess  his  mental  stock  in  quietness,  and  the  fool  and  the 
philosopher  are  marked  with  characters  as  distinct  as  those  of  the  ass 
and  zebra.  But  on  the  earliest  day  of  the  second  genial  month,  the 
greatest  pains  are  employed  to  confound  the  distinctions  of  nature,  and 
to  compel  even  the  wary  and  the  sagacious  to  make  a  pilgrimage  to  the 
shrine  of  St.  Folly. 

It  may  be  asked,  in  a  tone  less  growling  than  that  of  Johnson,  and 
less  misanthropical  than  that  of  Swift,  why  mankind  are  so  anxious  to 
form  fools,  when  the  business  appears  to  be  fully  done,  on  the  largest 
scale,  and  we  find  them  in  shoals  already  made  ?  I  can  see  no  reason 
for  this  superfluous  care.  Whether  the  foolish  are  sought  for  in  the 
vernal  or  autumnal  months ;  on  whatever  day  of  the  year,  weakness 
and  imperfection  are  wanted,  it  is  but  opening  the  eyes,  and  the  inquirer 
is  gratified.  Folly  is  not  a  rare,  exotic  bird,  or  far-fetched  wild  beast, 
kept  carefully  in  museums,  and  to  be  seen  only  for  a  fee.  She  is  at  our 
doors ;  she  stands  at  our  elbows ;  she  meets  us  each  moment  in  the 
street.  Her  bubble  is  as  frequent  as  "  the  idle  wind ; "  and  her  face  is 
common  as  Doll  Tearsheet's  in  the  bagnio,  and  notorious  as  the  perfidy 
of  the  French. 

It  is  time  for  injured  April  to  assert  his  rights,  and  no  longer  to 
suffer  such  an  idle  profanation  of  his  day.  Surely  the  first  of  a  month, 
the  immediate  harbinger  of  the  fairest  portion  of  the  year,  ought  not 
to  be  distinguished  only  in  the  rubric  of  folly.  April  may  be  com 
menced  with  much  more  propriety,  than  by  acting  like  fools  ourselves, 
or  striving  to  surprize  others  into  fatuity.  This  day  should  be,  indeed, 
a  festal  one,  but  not  dedicated  to  "  idiot  laughter,"  and  the  petty  tricks 
of  childhood.  It  should  be  a  kind  of  vernal  thanksgiving.  The  god 
dess  Flora,  rather  than  Folly,  should  have  our  vows.  We  should 
rejoice,  that  "  the  mandrakes  give  a  smell,"  and  that  "  at  our  gates  are 
all  manner  of  pleasant  flowers."  Our  sports  should  be  sylvan.  We 
should  exult  that  the  gloomy  shadows  of  Winter  are  fled  away ;  that 
the  south  wind  is  come,  and  blows  upon  our  gardens ;  and  the  vines, 
with  the  tender  grape,  give  a  good  smell.  Instead  of  tampering  with 
the  credulity  of  our  neighbor  or  friend,  we  should,  in  the  forcible  words 


ALEXANDER    THOMAS.  191 

of  Milton,  "  go  out,  and  see  the  riches  of  Nature,  and  partake  in  her 
rejoicing  with  heaven  and  earth."  Joy,  excited  by  the  lapse  of  Winter, 
and  its  horrors,  and  Hope,  animated  by  the  prospect  of  "  the  flowery 
prime,"  will  not  ask  for  an  All  Fools'  day  to  enlarge  the  delights  of 
Spring.  Even  to  him,  who  has  but  low  pretensions  to  philosophy,  all 
nature,  gay  and  revived,  will  be  a  much  finer  sight,  than  all  men  fool 
ish,  or  exposed  to  the  taunts  of  Folly.  Let  us,  therefore,  be  more 
solicitous  to  enjoy  and  improve  the  season ;  to  crown  ourselves  with  the 
chaplets  of  the  field,  and  with  "  rose  buds,  before  they  be  withered," 
than  to  invest  the  silly  with  their  cap  and  bells. 

At  this  new  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  Museum,  the 
old  motto  from  Bunyan  was  discarded  with  the  old  and 
worn-out  types,  and  the  following,  from  Goldsmith, 
adopted :  — 

Hither,  each  week,  the  peasant  shall  repair, 
To  sweet  oblivion  of  his  daily  care ; 
Again  the  farmer's  news  —  the  barber's  tale, 
Again  the  woodman's  ballad  shall  prevail. 

The  essays  of  the  Lay  Preacher  were  continued,  with 
tolerable  though  not  constant  punctuality  till  the  begin 
ning  of  September,  when  they  were  again  suspended, 
and  never  again  revived,  as  contributions  to  the  Mu 
seum.  Dennie  was  invited  to  Philadelphia,  to  a  differ 
ent  employment,  and  the  editorial  management  of  the 
paper  was  given  to  ALEXANDER  THOMAS,  who  conducted 
it  with  good  taste  and  discretion,  —  aided  by  many  of 
the  correspondents  that  had  given  it  popularity  during 
the  administration  of  Dennie.  In  consequence  of  the 
departure  of  Dennie  and  the  entire  suspension  of  his 
labors,  the  title  "  Lay  Preacher's  Gazette "  was  ex 
punged  and  that  of  Literary  Gazette  took  its  place. 
This  was  in  February,  1800.  Thenceforward  there 
was  sensible  decadence  in  the  contents  of  the  paper. 


192 

The  weekly  summaries,  which  had  frequently  filled  two 
or  three  columns,  dwindled  down  to  less  than  half  a 
column,  and  had  none  of  the  raciness  and  agreeable 
humor,  that  had  formerly  made  them  attractive. 

In  October,  1801,  the  proprietors,  Thomas  &  Thomas, 
published  an  advertisement,  stating  that  they  had  made 
a  temporary  disposal  of  the  establishment  to  DAVID 
NEWHALL,  whom  they  recommended  to  the  patrons  of 
the  paper,  for  industry  and  ability.  Newhall  published 
an  Address,  in  which  he  wisely  refrained  from  promising 
too  much,  as  "  addresses  of  this  kind  are  generally  preg 
nant  with  promises,  which  are  rarely  realized."  The 
dimensions  of  the  paper  were  reduced,  and  the  spirit 
evaporated. 

In  1803,  the  publication  was  resumed  by  Thomas  & 
Thomas.  The  next  year  the  paper  was  again  enlarged, 
and  the  second  title  was  dropped.  On  this  occasion  the 
publishers  said,  —  "  Though  the  state  of  the  country  is 
such  as  to  render  most  interesting  the  political  depart 
ment,  and  the  arts  and  falsehoods  circulating  by  reams 
over  the  state,  render  it  necessary  to  pay  prime  atten 
tion  to  correct  political  information,  yet  our  columns  will 
be  occasionally  varied  with  the  insertion  of  brief  essays 
on  religion  and  morality.  The  interest  of  the  Farmer 
shall  claim  our  notice  in  the  publication  of  useful  agri 
cultural  hints,  inventions,  and  improvements.  The  Sen 
timentalist  and  the  Wit  will  occasionally  find  a  repast  at 
our  Dessert,  and  we  trust  that  the  variety  we  shall  offer 
will  be  palatable  to  the  tastes  of  all." 

From  this  time  to  October,  1806,  the  Museum  was 
respectably  conducted,  but  had  no  remarkable  excellence 


CHEEVER    FELCH.  193 

to  distinguish  it  from  many  other  newspapers  in  the 
country  towns  of  New-England.  It  then  dwindled 
down  to  its  former  contracted  size. 

In  March,  1807,  the  publication  was  suspended.  In 
stating  their  reasons  for  this  suspension  thp  publishers 
said,  after  alluding  to  the  smallness  of  the  income  and 
the  difficulties  of  collecting  it,^ — "  Were  it  deemed 
practicable  or  probable  that  a  longer  continuance  of  our 
efforts  in  favor  of  the  former  wise,  prudent,  and  patriotic 
administration,  would  be  the  means  of  restoring  them, 
.we  should  cheerfully  maintain  the  post  we  have  occu 
pied.  But  where  failure  is  conceived  to  be  the  certain 
consequence  of  exertion,  a  person  may  be  excused  for 
withdrawing  his  forces."  They  concluded  with  a  re 
commendation  of  the  New-Hampshire  Sentinel,  pub 
lished  at  Keene,  by  John  Prentiss,  on  principles  similar 
to  their  own,  to  the  favor  of  their  subscribers. 

What  encouragement  they  had  for  reviving  the  publi 
cation  does  not  appear ;  but  it  was  revived  in  October, 
1808,  and  published  by  Thomas  &  Thomas  and  Chee- 
ver  Felch.  In  July,  1809,  the  names  of  Thomas  & 
Thomas  disappeared  from  the  imprint,  and  that  of 
Cheever  Felch  remained  as  the  sole  publisher  and  editor. 

Alexander  Thomas  had  long  suffered  from  declining 
health,  and  made  a  visit  to  the  Saratoga  Springs,  hoping 
thereby  to  obtain  relief;  but  he  died  the  day  after  his 
arrival,  July  2,  1809,  aged  thirty-five. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  following  the  revival  of  the 
publication,  Felch  expressed  his  gratitude  for  the  en 
couragement  he  had  received,  and,  as  new  arrangements 
for  business  had  been  made,  he  should  continue  his 
endeavor  to  merit  the  patronage  of  the  public.  But 
17 


194  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 

notwithstanding  all  these  flattering  assurances,  the  Farm 
er's  Museum  rapidly  approached  its  end.  In  October, 
1810,  the  publication  was  again  suspended,  and  was 
never  again  revived.  In  his  farewell  address  to  the  pub 
lic,  the  editor  declared  that  the  subscription  would  by  no 
means  remunerate  the  trouble  of  conducting  the  paper 
in  a  proper  manner,  and  that  a  multiplicity  of  other 
business  prevented  his  paying  that  attention  to  it,  which 
it  demanded.  The  following  is  a  part  of  his  valedic 
tory  :  — 

The  public  is  assured,  that  I  entertain  a  grateful  sense  of  its  liberal 
patronage,  as  well  as  for  the  confidence  it  has  placed  in  me.  And  it  is  a 
pleasing  reflection,  that,  in  no  instance,  have  I  intentionally  misled  that 
confidence.  In  the  course  of  my  editorial  labors,  I  have  deemed  it 
necessary  to  take  decided  and  bold  ground,  which  has  exposed  me  to 
the  bitter  invectives  of  opposing  partisans.  But  this  ground  was  taken 
from  a  full  conviction  of  its  rectitude.  I  have  always  thought  that  the 
man,  who  conducted  a  public  paper,  and  dared  not  publish  the  truth,  for 
fear  of  giving  offence,  was  not  only  a  coward,  but  a  villain,  and,  in  mat 
ters  of  consequence,  a  traitor  to  his  country.  Believing  this,  I  have 
pursued  a  different  course.  When  I  have  found  the  truth,  I  have  not 
feared  to  publish  it.  In  my  articles  upon  individual  characters,  I  have 
been  guided  by  the  strictest  adherence  to  facts.  And,  in  many  cases, 
for  fear  of  over-stepping  the  truth,  I  have  omitted  publishing  some  of 
the  most  glaring  things.  No  man  has  any  cause  of  complaint  against 
me ;  and  whatever  bluster  some  individuals  may  have  made,  they  have 
not  dared  the  attempt  of  clearing  themselves  from  the  charges.  If  it 
were  attempted,  they  well  knew  it  was  in  my  power  to  affix  on  them 
others  of  a  deeper  cast. 

Quitting  the  editorial  cares,  I  also  quitted  the  bickerings  of  party 
politics.  'Tis  in  vain  to  attempt  to  stand  against  the  current  of  the 
times.  An  infatuation  has  seized  the  public  mind  ;  and  as  people  are 
more  ready  to  believe  falsehood  than  truth,  so  the  party,  which  is  the 
most  corrupt,  and  will  resort  to  the  most  base  methods,  and  dress  up 
the  most  plausible  falsehoods,  will,  of  course,  generally  carry  its  points. 
We  are  treading  the  steps  of  former  republics,  and  we  shall  most  cer 
tainly  share  their  fate.  The  man,  who  does  most  for  his  country,  and 
opposes  the  most  strenuously  our  career  to  destruction,  shall  fare  the 


JOSEPH    DENNIE.  195 

worst.  Let  us  then  go  down  with  the  current,  and  a  few  years  shall  find 
us  the  groveling  slaves  of  a  foreign  despot,  an  upstart  tyrant  —  of  our 
own. 

Felch  continued  some  time  in  Walpole,  in  the  busi 
ness  of  bookselling.  He  took  orders  in  the  Episcopal 
church,  and,  in  1814,  was  a  chaplain  in  the  navy. 

It  remains  to  take  some  further  notice  of  Dennie  and 
his  literary  associates. 

When  Dennie  left  Walpole  for  Philadelphia  in  Sep 
tember,  1799,  it  was  understood  to  be  in  consequence  of 
an  invitation  from  the  editor  of  the  United  States  Ga 
zette,  with  whom  he  was  to  share  the  responsibility  of 
editing  that  paper.  He  entered  upon  that  service,  but 
his  connection  with  it  was  of  short  continuance.  Before 
the  end  of  the  year  1800,  in  company  with  Asbury  Dick 
ens,  a  bookseller  of  Philadelphia,  he  began  the  publica 
tion  of  the  "  Port  Folio,"  —  a  weekly  paper,  "  combining 
in  the  manner  of  the  Tattler,  politics,  with  essays  and  dis 
quisitions  on  topics,  scientific,  moral,  humorous,  and  lit 
erary."  In  his  prospectus,  he  enumerated  his  literary 
offspring,  and  declared  that  he  was  not  weary  in  well 
doing.  "  The  Tablet,  a  favorite  child,  (he  said)  after 
buffeting  the  billows  of  adverse  fortune,  for  thirteen 
short  weeks,  sickened  and  died  ;  and  so  it  had  fared  with 
other  similar  productions  of  his  pen."  He  conducted 
the  Port  Folio,  wholly  or  in  part,  till  January,  1812, 
when  he  died  —  a  premature  victim  to  social  indulgence. 
If  his  epitaph  were  to  be  written  by  one  of  his  convivial 
companions,  the  writer  might  be  prompted  to  offer  some 
thing  like  the  following :  — 

Farewell !  may  the  turf,  where  thy  cold  relics  rest, 
Bear  herbs  —  odoriferous  herbs  !  o'er  thy  breast, 
May  their  heads  thyme,  and  sage,  and  pot  marjoram  wave, 
And  fat  be  the  gander,  that  feeds  on  thy  grave. 


196  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 

I  have  a  vivid  recollection  of  Dennie's  personal  ap 
pearance,  in  1796,  when  I  began  my  apprenticeship  in 
the  printing-office  of  David  Carlisle.  In  person,  he  was 
rather  below  than  above  the  middling  height,  and  was  of 
a  slender  frame.  He  was  particularly  attentive  to  his 
dress,  which,  when  he  appeared  in  the  street,  on  a 
pleasant  day,  approached  the  highest  notch  of  the  fash 
ion.  I  remember,  one  delightful  morning  in  May,  he 
came  into  the  office,  dressed  in  a  pea-green  coat,  white 
vest,  nankin  small-clothes,  white  silk  stockings,  and  shoes, 
or  pumps,  fastened  with  silver  buckles,  which  covered  at 
least  half  the  foot  from  the  instep  to  the  toe.  His 
small-clothes  were  tied  at  the  knees,  with  riband  of  the 
same  color,  in  double  bows,  the  ends  reaching  down  to 
the  ancles.  He  had  just  emerged  from  the  barber's 
shop.  His  hair,  in  front,  was  well  loaded  with  poma 
tum,  frizzled,  or  craped,  and  powdered ;  the  ear-locks 
had  undergone  the  same  process;  behind,  his  natural 
hair  was  augmented  by  the  addition  of  a  large  queue, 
(called,  vulgarly,  the  false  tail,)  which,  enrolled  in 
some  yards  of  black  ribband,  reached  half  way  down 
his  back.  Thus  accommodated,  the  Lay  Preacher  stands 
before  my  mind's  eye,  as  life-like  and  sprightly  as  if  it 
were  but  yesterday  that  I  saw  the  reality. 

Among  his  familiar  acquaintance,  and  in  the  company 
of  literary  men,  Dennie  must  have  been  a  delightful  and 
fascinating  companion.  In  the  printing-office,  his  con 
versation  with  the  apprentices  was  pleasant  and  instruct 
ive.  His  deportment  towards  them  was  marked  with 
great  urbanity  and  gentleness.  Being  the  youngest 
apprentice,  —  in  vulgar  phrase,  the  printer's  devil,  —  it 
was  my  lot  to  call  upon  him  for  copy,  and  carry  the 
proof  to  him.  Thus,  for  seven  or  eight  months,  my  in- 


JOSEPH    DENN1E.  197 

tercourse  with  him  was  almost  daily,  and  was  as  familiar 
as  propriety  would  sanction  between  an  editor  and  an 
apprentice.  I  never  saw  him  otherwise  than  in  good 
humor. 

Dennie  wrote  with  great  rapidity,  and  generally  post 
poned  his  task  till  he  was  called  upon  for  copy.  It  was 
frequently  necessary  to  go  to  his  office,  and  it  was  not 
uncommon  to  find  him  in  bed  at  a  late  hour  in  the  morn 
ing.  His  copy  was  often  given  out  in  small  portions,  a 
paragraph  or  two  at  a  time  ;  sometimes  it  was  written  in 
the  printing-office,  while  the  compositor  was  waiting  to 
put  it  in  type.  One  of  the  best  of  his  Lay  sermons  was 
written  at  the  village  tavern,  directly  opposite  to  the 
office,  in  a  chamber  where  he  and  his  friends  were  amus 
ing  themselves  with  cards.  It  was  delivered  to  me  by 
piece-meal,  at  four  or  five  different  times.  If  he  hap 
pened  to  be  engaged  in  a  game,  when  I  applied  for  copy, 
he  would  ask  some  one  to  play  his  hand  for  him,  while 
he  could  give  the  devil  his  due.  When  I  called  for  the 
closing  paragraph  of  the  sermon,  he  said,  call  again  in 
Jive  minutes.  "  No,"  —  said  Tyler  —  "I  '11  write  the  im 
provement  for  you."  He  accordingly  wrote  a  conclud 
ing  paragraph,  and  Dennie  never  saw  it  till  it  was  in 
print. 

For  some  unaccountable  cause,  (unaccountable  by 
me,)  Dennie  hated,  or  despised,  the  faculty  of  Harvard 
College,  and  he  never  neglected  an  opportunity  to  lam 
poon  the  individuals,  of  which  it  was  composed,  and 
would  often  step  a  little  out  of  his  way  to  level  his  arrows 
at  the  professors  and  tutors,  and  exult  in  the  belief  that 
he  had  hit  the  mark. 

It  has  been  frequently  remarked  that  Dennie  left  no 
17* 


198  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 

work,  that  will  sustain  the  reputation  he  enjoyed  as 
a  writer.  The  Lay  Preacher,  the  most  elaborate  of  all 
his  literary  compositions,  is  now  unknown  to  the  great 
mass  of  the  reading  public,  and  is  almost  forgotten  by 
those  who  read  and  admired  it,  as  it  came  fresh  from  the 
press.  It  is  true,  that  there  are  some  things  in  this  series 
of  essays,  that  have  not  the  attributes  that  will  insure 
immortality ;  but  it  is  also  true,  that  they  contain  much, 
which  bears  the  stamp  of  genius,  and  which  ought  not 
to  sink  into  oblivion.  He  was  a  professed  admirer  of 
the  style  of  Addison  and  Sterne,  and  was  not  unwilling 
to  have  his  Lay  Preacher  compared  with  the  Spectator 
and  the  "  Sermons  by  Mr.  Yorick." 

I  have  never  met  with  any  Biography  of  Dennie, 
though  I  have  been  told  that  a  volume  bearing  that  title 
was  published  at  Philadelphia.  The  materials  for  such 
a  work  doubtless  existed  ;  though,  if  not  published,  they 
may  now  be  difficult  of  access.  There  must  have  been 
many  letters  of  his  among  his  literary  friends,  which,  if 
they  partake  of  the  spirit  and  sprightliness  of  his  conver 
sation,  would  exhibit  his  character  in  very  attractive 
colors.  Whatever  deficiences  there  might  have  been  in 
his  character,  they  died  with  him,  as  they  should.  His 
virtues  ought  to  be  remembered  by  those,  who  beheld  the 
manifestations  of  his  genius  in  its  brightest  period,  and 
they  should  present  to  the  public  his  literary,  intellectual, 
and  moral  portrait. 

It  has  been  asserted  that  Dennie  practised  law  with 
reputation  and  success ;  but  the  fact,  I  apprehend,  was 
otherwise.  The  contrary  assertion,  —  that  he  never 
appeared  in  court  but  once,  as  an  advocate,  I  have  no 
doubt,  is  much  nearer  the  truth.  The  following  account 


JOSEPH    DENNIE.  199 

of  his  first  and  last  attempt  to  address  a  court  was  written 
by  his  friend  Tyler,  for  the  New-England  Galaxy  and 
published  in  that  paper,  July  24,  1818.  It  was  doubtless 
embellished  by  the  writer,  but  the  main  facts  were  often 
mentioned  when  Dennie  was  editor  of  the  Museum,  were 
understood  to  be  accurately  narrated,  and  I  have  reason 
to  believe  that  they  were  never  denied  or  controverted  :  — 

I  well  recollect  that  soon  after  he  had  terminated  his  noviciate,  was 
admitted  to  the  oath  of  an  attorney  and  had  opened  an  office,  I  was 
present  at  his  debut  as  an  advocate  at  the  bar.  No  young  lawyer  ever  en 
tered  on  practice  with  more  favorable  auspices.  The  senior  members 
of  the  bar  augured  success,  and  he  numbered  all  who  were  valuable 
among  the  juniors  as  particular  friends.  As  it  was  generally  known 
when  he  was  to  deliver  "  his  maiden  speech,"  by  a  kind  of  tacit  agree 
ment  the  gentlemen  of  the  bar  resolved  to  afford  him  the  most  favora 
ble  arena  for  the  display  of  his  eloquence.  The  opposing  counsel  had 
engaged  to  suspend  all  interference,  although  his  statements  deviated 
ever  so  far  from  fact. 

Mr.  Denuic  had  been  engaged  on  behalf  of  the  defendant  to  support 
a  motion  for  an  imparlance  or  continuance  in  an  action  brought  by  cer 
tain  plaintiffs  for  the  recovery  of  the  contents  of  a  promissory  note. 
The  execution  of  the  note  could  not  be  contested,  it  was  given  for  a 
valuable  consideration,  and  was  justly  due.  A  very  liberal  indulgence 
had  already  been  extended  to  the  defendant  by  several  previous  impar- 
lances,  and  nothing  remained  for  the  most  adroit  advocate  to  press  upon 
the  court  but  the  untoward  effects  a  judgement  and  consequent  writ  of 
execution  would  have  upon  the  fortunes  of  his  client. 

The  court  opened,  and,  as  if  by  previous  concert,  all  other  business 
was  suspended,  and  our  young  advocate,  after  bowing  gracefully, 
assumed  the  attitude  of  an  orator,  and  addressed  the  court. 

I  wish  I  could  transcribe  this  address,  as  the  lawyers  say,  "  in  haec 
verba,"  but  I  can  give  only  a  mere  sketch.  Twenty  years  have  elapsed, 
and  I  remember  it  as  I  do  an  original  picture  of  Claude  Loraine ;  to 
do  justice  to  the  original  I  should  possess  the  talents  of  the  matchless 
artist. 

He  began  with  a  luminous  history  of  compulsory  payments  ;  he 
showed  clearly  that  as  knowledge  was  diffused  humanity  prevailed  even 
from  the  savage  era,  Avhen  the  debtor,  his  wife  and  children,  were  sold 
into  slavery  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  the  creditor,  and  the  corpse  of 
the  insolvent  was  denied  the  rites  of  sepulture,  through  the  iron  age  of 


200 

our  English  ancestors,  when  the  debtor  was  incarcerated  in  "  salva  et 
areta  custodia,"  down  to  the  present  day,  when  by  the  amelioration  of 
the  laws,  the  statutes  of  bankruptcy  and  gaol  delivery  had  humanely 
liberated  the  body  of  the  unfortunate  debtor  from  prison,  upon  the  sur 
render  of  his  estate.  He  observed,  that  in  the  progress  of  knowledge, 
the  municipal  courts  had,  by  interposing  the  "law's  delay"  between  the 
vindictive  avarice  of  the  creditor,  and  the  ruin  of  the  debtor,  always  to 
the  honor  of  the  judiciary  department,  preceded  the  Legislative  in  the 
merciful  march  of  humanity.  That  the  time  was  not  far  distant  when 
the  Legislative  would  repeal  those  statutes  which  provided  for  imprison 
ment  for  debt,  and  punished  a  virtuous  man  as  a  criminal  merely 
because  he  was  poor. 

But  aside  of  these  general  considerations,  he  begged  leave  to  lay  the 
defendant's  unhappy  case  before  the  court ;  he  would  "  a  round  unvar 
nished  tale  deliver."  His  client  was  an  husbandman,  a  husband,  and 
the  father  of  a  large  family,  who  depended  solely  on  the  labor  of  his 
hands  for  bread  —  he  had  seen  better  days  —  but  his  patrimonial  farm 
had  been  sold  for  Continental  money,  and  the  whole  lost  by  deprecia 
tion,  whilst  others  had  been  getting  gain.  A  deep  scar  in  his  side,  occa 
sioned  by  the  thrust  of  a  British  bayonet  at  the  battle  of  Bunker-Hill, 
was  all  he  had  to  remunerate  him  for  his  services  as  a  soldier  during 
the  revolutionary  war.  Here  the  "  poet's  eye  began  to  roll  in  a  fine 
frenzy."  We  saw  the  hapless  husbandman  "  plodding  his  weary  way  " 
through  the  chill  blast  of  a  winter's  storm,  and  seeking  through  the 
drifting  snow  his  log  cottage,  beneath  the  craggy  side  of  an  abrupt  pre 
cipice  ;  "  the  taper's  solitary  ray  "  appears  —  vanishes  —  and  again  lights 
up  hope  in  his  heart  —  the  door  opens  —  his  children  run  "  to  lisp  their 
sire's  return  and  climb  his  knees  the  envied  kiss  to  share"  —  "the  busy 
housewife"  prepares  the  frugal  repast,  the  wicker  chair  is  drawn  before 
the  capacious  hearth,  "  and  the  crackling  fagot  flies ; "  the  labors  of  the 
day  are  forgotten  and  all  is  serenity  and  domestic  bliss  —  the  family 
bible  is  opened  —  the  psalm  is  sung,  and  the  father  of  the  family  rises 
in  the  midst  of  his  offspring  and  invokes  a  blessing  upon  his  country 
and  his  government,  and  fervently  prays  that  its  freedom  and  independ 
ence  may  last  as  long  as  the  sun  and  moon  shall  endure  —  acknowl 
edges  his  own  trespasses,  and  pours  out  his  heart  in  gratitude,  that  in 
the  midst  of  judgement  God  had  remembered  mercy  —  that  though  de 
spoiled  of  wealth,  the  wife  of  his  youth  was  continued  unto  him  —  that 
his  children  were  blessed  with  health,  that  they  had  a  roof  to  cover  them 
from  the  wintry  storm,  and  that  under  his  Divine  protection  they  might 
sleep  in  peace,  with  none  to  disturb  them  or  make  them  afraid.  But 
scarcely  does  the  incense  of  prayer  ascend  from  that  golden  censer,  a 


JOSEPH    DENNIE.  201 

good  man's  heart,  when  an  appalling  knock  is  heard ;  the  wooden  latch 
is  broken,  the  door  is  widely  thrown  open  —  Enter  the  bailiff,  "down 
whose  hard  unmeaning  face  ne'er  stole  the  pitying  tear,"  with  the  writ 
of  execution,  issued  in  this  cause ;  he  arrests  the  hapless  father,  and 
amidst  the  swooniugs  of  the  wife,  the  sobbings  and  imbecile  opposition 
of  his  children,  he  is  dragged  "  through  the  pelting  of  the  pitiless  storm  " 
to  a  loathsome  prison. 

Was  not  this  a  case  to  be  distinguished  from  the  common  herd  of 
parties,  which  cumbered  the  court's  docket?  —  Was  not  some  consider 
ations  to  be  had  for  a  brave  man,  who  had  bled  for  that  independence, 
withotit  which  their  honors  would  not  now  dignify  the  bench  as  the 
magistrates  of  a  free  people?  —  Was  rigid  justice  untempered  with 
mercy  to  be  alone  found  in  the  Judicial  Courts  of  a  people  renowned 
for  their  humanity?  and  shall  "human  laws,  which  should  be  made 
only  to  check  the  arm  of  wickedness,"  be  changed  into  instruments  of 
oppression  and  cruelty? 

The  orator  ceased  —  mute  attention  accompanied  the  delivery,  and  at 
the  close  all  were  charmed,  and  all  silent ;  even  the  opposing  counsel 
sat  hesitating  betwixt  his  fees  and  his  feelings,  and  forbore  to  reply. 
This  silence,  which  our  young  advocate  seemed  to  notice  with  peculiar 
complacency,  was  broken  from  the  bench.  The  Judge,  an  unlettered 
farmer,  who,  by  the  prevalence  of  party,  had  obtained  the  summit  of 
yeoman  ambition,  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  an  Inferior  Court,  who  knew 
only  the  technical  jargon  of  the  court,  and  to  whom  the  language  and 
pathos  of  Dennie  were  alike  unintelligible,  sat,  during  the  delivery  of 
the  address,  rolling  a  pair  of  "  lack  lustre  eyes  "  with  a  vacant  stare, 
sometime  at  the  orator  and  then  at  the  bar,  as  if  seeking  most  curiously 
for  meaning,  and  who  was  perhaps  restrained  only  by  the  respectful 
attention  of  the  latter  from  interrupting  the  speaker.  The  Judge 
broke  silence. 

Judge.  I  confess  I  am  in  rather  a  kind  of  a  quandary ;  I  profess  I  am 
somewhat  dubus ;  I  can't  say  that  I  know  for  sartin  what  the  young  gen 
tleman  would  be  at. 

Counsellor  V.  My  brother  Dennie,  may  it  please  your  honor,  has  been 
enforcing  his  motion  for  an  Imparlance  on  the  part  of  the  Defendant, 
in  the  cause  of  Patrick  McGripinclaw  et  alii,  Plaintiffs,  vs.  Noadiah 
Chubber. 

Judge.  Oh !  Ay !  now  I  believe  I  understand  —  the  young  man 
wants  the  cause  to  be  hung  up  for  the  next  term,  duz  he  ? 

Counsellor  V.  Yes,  may  it  please  the  court. 

Judge.  Well,  well,  if  that 's  all  he  wants,  why  couldn't  he  say  so  in  a 
few  words,  pat  to  the  purpose,  without  all  this  larry  cum  lurry  ? 


202 

Our  advocate  took  his  hat  and  gloves  from  the  table,  cast  a  look  of 
ineffable  contempt  upon  the  Boeotian  magistrate,  and  stalked  out  of  the 
court  house. 

Although  Mr.  Dennie  affected  to  view  his  unlucky  debut  in  its  pro 
per  light,  and  would  frequently  tell  the  story  of  his  discomfiture  with 
great  humor,  yet  his  friends  perceived  he  was  deeply  wounded  —  dis 
gusted  with  the  profession.  To  entice  him  to  a  second  essay,  some 
months  afterwards,  I  observed  to  him,  "  That  I  was  engaged  as  counsel 
in  an  action  for  seduction,  An  unfortunate  girl,  the  daughter  of  a  poor 
but  respectable  widow,  had  been  ruined  by  the  promises  of  a  base  but 
wealthy  man ;  that  the  facts  would  be  well  substantiated,  and  the  whole 
effort  of  her  counsel  directed  to  the  enhancement  of  damages :  this  de 
pending  principally  upon  the  eloquence  of  her  counsel,  presented  a  fine 
opportunity  for  the  display  of  his  peculiar  talents.  That  I  would  intro 
duce  him  into  the  cause,  and  he  might  open  it  before  a  presiding  Judge 
who  possessed  a  taste  for  fine  speaking,  and  would  justly  appreciate 
the  force  and  classical  purity  of  his  rhetoric. 

His  reply  convinced  me  that  he  had  taken  a  final  leave  of  the 
"  noisy  bar." 

D.  "  It  may  do  for  you,  my  friend,  to  pursue  this  sordid  business  — 
you  can  address  the  ignoble  vulgar  in  their  own  Alsatia  dialect.  I  re 
member  the  Bseotian  Judge,  and  it  is  the  last  time  I  will  ever  attempt 
to  batter  down  a  mud  wall  with  roses." 

Dennie's  most  intimate  friend  and  associate  in  his  lit 
erary  enterprizes  was  ROYAL  TYLER.  This  gentleman 
was  a  native  of  Boston.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  Col 
lege  in  1776,  and  studied  law,  —  it  has  been  said, — in 
the  office  of  John  Adams.  For  a  short  time,  he  was 
connected  with  the  army,  and  was  an  aid  to  General 
Lincoln.  He  also  acted  in  the  same  capacity,  when 
that  officer  commanded  the  military  force  of  Massachu 
setts,  called  out  to  suppress  the  rebellion  of  Daniel 
Shays.  He  was  also  deputed  by  Governor  Bowdoin  to 
the  government  of  New-York,  to  make  arrangements 
for  the  delivery  of  Shays  and  his  adherents  to  the  au 
thorities  of  Massachusetts,  should  they  escape  to  that 
state.  While  conducting  this  agency,  in  the  city  of  New- 


ROYAL    TYLER.  203 

York,  lie  offered  to  the  manager  of  the  theatre  a  com 
edy,  entitled  "  The  -Contrast/'  which  he  had  written  at 
intervals  of  military  service.  The  comedy  was  per 
formed,  and  received  with  a  good  degree  of  applause. 
In  1797,  he  wrote  a  three-act  comedy,  called  "The 
Georgia  Spec,  or  Land  in  the  Moon,"  which  was  per 
formed  several  times  at  the  Boston  theatre.  It  censured 
the  wickedness  of  the  speculators  in  what  was  called 
the  Yazoo  purchase,  and  laughed  at  the  folly  of  those, 
who  were  their  victims. 

Tyler's  contributions  to  the  Farmer's  Museum  were 
numerous ;  and,  if  collected,  would  fill  several  volumes. 
He  wrote  rapidly,  and  could  vary  his  style  "  from  grave 
to  gay,  from  lively  to  severe,"  as  easily  as  he  could 
draw  on  his  glove.  Most  of  the  articles,  purporting  to 
be  "  from  the  Shop  of  Messrs.  Colon  &  Spondee,"  were 
written  by  him ;  the  poetical  pieces,  I  believe,  are  all 
of  his  composition.  These  he  generally  threw  off  with 
a  dash  of  the  pen,  seldom  taking  any  pains  to  revise 
them.  They  are  noted  for  inaccuracy  of  rhymes,  —  a 
defect,  which  he  thought  hardly  worthy  of  his  attention  ; 
but  they  are  remarkable  for  sprightliness  of  thought  and 
expression,  and  an  easy  flow  of  language.  They  em 
braced  topics  of  all  sorts,  local  and  general,  temporary 
and  permanent,  and  were  well  charged  with  wit  and 
humor.  The  complexion  of  the  political  articles  was 
purely  federal.  The  original  idea  of  this  fictitious  Shop 
of  Colon  &  Spondee,  was  the  offspring  of  Tyler's  pro 
lific  brain  ;  and  the  first  public  manifestation  of  it  was 
made  in  the  Eagle,  a  paper  published  at  Hanover, 
N.  H.,  in  the  following  style :  — 


204 

VARIETY   STORE. 

To  THE  LITERATI.  Messrs.  Colon  &  Spondee,  wholesale  dealers  in 
Verse,  Prose  and  Music,  beg  leave  to  inform  the  public  and  the  learned 
in  particular,  that — previous  to  the  ensuing  Commencement  —  they 
purpose  to  open  a  fresh  assortment  of  Lexicographic,  Burger  sdician,  and 
Parnassian  Goods,  suitable  for  the  season,  at  the  room  on  the  Plain,*1 
lately  occupied  by  Mr.  Frederic  Wiser,  Tonsor,  —  if  it  can  be  pro 
cured —  where  they  will  expose  to  sale  Salutatory  and  Valedictory 
Orations,  Syllogistic  and  Forensic  Disputations  and  Dialogues,  among 
the  living  and  the  dead  —  Theses  and  Masters'  Questions,  Latin,  Greek, 
Hebrew,  Syriac,  Arabic  and  the  ancient  Coptic,  neatly  modified  into 
Dialogues,  Orations,  &c.  on  the  shortest  notice  —  with  Dissertations  on 
the  Targum  and  Talmud  and  Collations  after  the  manner  of  Kenni- 
cott  —  Hebrew  roots  and  other  simples  —  Dead  Languages  for  living 
Drones  —  Oriental  Languages  with  or  without  points,  prefixes,  or 
suffixes  —  Attic,  Doric,  Ionic,  and  ^Eolic  Dialects,  with  the  Wabash, 
Onondaga,  and  Mohawk  Gutterals  —  Synalcephas,  Elisions,  and  Ellip 
ses  of  the  newest  cut  —  v's  added  and  dove-tailed  to  their  vowels,  with  a 
small  assortment  of  the  genuine  Peloponnesian  Nasal  Twangs  — 
Classic  Compliments  adapted  to  all  dignities,  with  superlatives  in  o, 
and  gerunds  in  di,  gratis  —  Monologues,  Dialogues,  Trialogues,  Tetra- 
logues,  and  so  on  from  one  to  twenty-logues. 

Anagrams,  Acrostics,  Anacreontics ;  Chronograms,  Epigrams,  Hu- 
dibrastics  and  Panegyrics ;  Rebuses,  Charades,  Puns  and  Conun 
drums,  by  the  gross,  or  single  dozen.  Sonnets,  Elegies,  Epithalamiums  ; 
Bucolics,  Georgics,  Pastorals :  Epic  Poems,  Dedications,  and  Adula 
tory  Prefaces,  in  verse  and  prose. 

Ether,  Mist,  Sleet,  Rain,  Snow,  Lightning,  and  Thunder,  prepared 
and  personified,  after  the  manner  of  Delia  Crusca,  with  a  quantity  of 
Brown  Horror  and  Blue  Fear,  from  the  same  Manufactory;  with  a 

pleasing  variety  of  high-colored  Compound  Epithets,  well  assorted 

Farragoes,  and  other  Brunonian  Opiates  —  Anti-Institutes,  or  the  new 
and  concise  patent  mode  of  applying  forty  letters  to  the  spelling  of  a 
monosyllable  —  Love  Letters  by  the  Ream  —  Summary  Arguments, 
both  Merry  and  Serious  —  Sermons,  moral,  occasional,  or  polemical  — 
Sermons  for  Texts,  and  Texts  for  Sermons  —  Old  Orations  scoured, 
Forensics  furbished,  Blunt  Epigrams  newly  pointed,  and  Cold  Confer 
ences  hashed;  with  Extemporaneous  Prayers  corrected  and  amended — 
Alliterations  artfully  allied  —  and  periods  polished  to  perfection. 

*  At  Hanover.  Before  the  Farmer's  Museum  became  the  repository  of  these 
articles,  a  few  were  published  in  the  Federal  Orrery,  and  in  the  Tablet. 


ROYAL    TYLER.  205 

Airs,  Canons,  Catches,  and  Cantatas — Fuges,  Overtures,  and  Sym 
phonies  for  any  number  of  Instruments Serenades  for  Nocturnal 

Lovers  — with  Rose  Trees  full  blown,  and  Black  Jokes  of  all  colors 

Amens  and  Hallelujahs,  trilled,  quavered  and  slurred with  Coup 
lets,  Syncopations,  Minims,  and  Crotchet  Rests,  for  female  voices 

and  Solos,  with  three  parts,  for  hand  organs. 

Classic  College  Bows,  clear  starched,  lately  imported  from  Cam 
bridge,  and  now  used  by  all  the  topping  scientific  connoisseurs,  in  hair 
and  wigs,  in  this  country. 

Adventures,  Paragraphs,  Letters  from  Correspondents,  Country 
Seats  for  Rural  Members  of  Congress,  provided  for  Editors  of  News 
papers —  with  Accidental  Deaths,  Battles,  Bloody  Murders,  Premature 
News,  Tempests,  Thunder  and  Lightning,  and  Hail-Stones,  of  all 
dimensions,  adapted  to  the  Season. 

Circles  squared,  Mathematical  points  divided  into  quarters,  and  half 
shares ;  and  jointed  Asymptotes,  which  will  meet  at  any  given  dis 
tance. 

Syllogisms  in  Bocardo,  and  Baralipton  ;  and  other  coarse  Wrapping- 
Paper,  gratis,  to  those  who  buy  the  smallest  article. 

HF=  On  hand  a  few  Tierces  of  Attic  Salt Also,  Cash,  and  the 

highest  price,  given  for  RAW  WIT,  for  the  use  of  the  Manufactory,  or 
taken  in  exchange  for  the  above  Articles. 

Tyler  was  extremely  fond  of  amusing  himself  and 
others  with  specimens  of  his  skill  in  alliteration.  One  of 
these,  a  sort  of  love  epistle,  "  From  Fond  Frederic  to 
Fanny  False  Fair,"  has  the  following  stanzas  :  — 

The  sweetest  seraph's  softest  smile, 
The  gorgeous  gems  of  gentle  grace, 
The  slippery  serpent's  scathful  stile, 
Frequent  false  Fanny's  flattering  face. 

Headstrong  with  hazy  halcyon  hope, 
I  follow,  fond,  the  fickle  fair ; 
Nor  shun  the  sudden,  stunning  stroke, 
Which  drives  me  deep  in  dank  despair. 

*        #        #        #        # 

Nor  systems,  suns,  nor  sparkling  stars, 
In  confused  Chaos  countervolved, 
Could  ape  the  ambling  of  her  airs, 
When  random  ruin  she  resolved. 
18 


206 

Fair  Fanny's  fame  shall  flourish  far, 
Till  teaz-ed  Time  shall,  toiling,  tire ; 
And  Daphne,  Delia,  Dorcas,  dear, 
Shall  fail  to  fan  fierce  Fanny's  fire. 

To  these  there  was  given  an  answer,  alphabetically 
arranged,  beginning  — 

Artful  ape  of  amorous  airs, 
Baneful  bait  thy  ballad  bears ; 
Coaxing  coxcomb,  curb  thy  course,  &c. 

The  following  verses  are  in  a  different  style,  and,  it 
must  be  admitted  that  they  have  an  air  of  unstudied 
ease  and  elegance,  which  are  seldom  seen  in  the  produc 
tions  of  those,  who  write  for  newspapers  :  — 

SPONDEE'S  MISTRESSES. 
I. 

Let  Cowley  soft  in  amorous  verse, 
The  rovings  of  his  love  rehearse, 

With  passion  most  unruly, 
Boast  how  he  woo'd  sweet  Amoret, 
The  sobbing  Jane,  and  sprightly  Bet, 
The  lily  fair  and  smart  brunette, 

In  sweet  succession  truly. 

n. 

But  list,  ye  lovers,  and  you  '11  swear, 
I  roved  with  him  beyond  compare, 

And  was  far  more  unlucky; 
For  never  yet  in  Yankee  coast 
Were  found  such  girls,  who  so  could  boast, 
An  honest  lover's  heart  to  roast, 

From  Casco  to  Kentucky. 

in. 

When  first  the  girls  nicknamed  me  beau, 
And  I  was  all  for  dress  and  show, 

I  set  me  out  a  courting. 
A  romping  Miss,  with  heedless  art, 
First  caught,  then  almost  broke,  my  heart, 
Miss  CONDUCT  named;  we  soon  did  part; 

I  did  not  like  such  sporting. 


ROYAL    TYLER.  207 

IV. 

The  next  coquet,  who  raised  a  flame, 
Was  far  more  grave,  and  somewhat  lame, 

She  in  my  heart  did  rankle  ; 
She  conquered  with  a  sudden  glance ; 
The  spiteful  slut  was  called  Miss  CHANCE  ; 
I  took  the  gipsy  out  to  dance ; 

She  almost  broke  my  ankle, 
v. 

A  thoughtless  girl,  just  in  her  teens, 
Was  the  next  fair,  whom  Love  it  seems 

Had  made  me  prize  most  highly : 
I  thought  to  court  a  lovely  mate, 
But,  how  it  made  my  heart  to  ache,  — 
It  was  that  jade,  the  vile  Miss  TAKE  ; 

In  troth,  Love  did  it  slily. 

VI. 

And  last,  Miss  FORTUNE,  whimpering,  came, 
Cured  me  of  Love's  tormenting  flame, 

And  all  my  beau  pretences ; 
In  Widow's  weeds,  the  prude  appears ; 
See  now  —  she  drowns  me  with  her  tears, 
With  bony  fist,  now  slaps  my  ears, 

And  brings  me  to  my  senses. 

In  1799,  Tyler  wrote  an  Ode  for  the  celebration  of 
the  fourth  of  July  at  Windsor,  Vermont,  highly  charged 
with  federal  politics  and  patriotism.  It  consists  of 
eighty-four  lines  ;  and  though  it  might  be  here  intro 
duced  as  a  good  specimen  of  the  author's  poetry,  I  pre 
fer  appropriating  the  space  it  might  occupy  to  the  fol 
lowing  CONVIVIAL  SONG,  which  he  wrote  for  the  same 
occasion,  and  which  was  sung  at  a  select  meeting  in  the 

TUNE  —  "  Here's  to  our  noble  selves,  Boys." 

I. 
Come,  fill  each  brimming  glass,  boys, 

Red  or  white  has  equal  joys, 
Come  fill  each  brimming  glass,  boys, 
And  toast  your  country's  glory ; 


208  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 

Does  any  here  to  fear  incline, 
And  o'er  Columbia's  danger  whine, 
Why  let  him  quaff  this  gen'rous  wine, 
He  '11  tell  another  story. 


Here 's  Washington,  the  brave,  boys, 

Source  of  all  Columbia's  joys, 
Here 's  Washington  the  brave,  boys, 

Come  rise  and  toast  him  standing 
For  he  's  the  hero  firm  and  brave, 
Who  all  our  country's  glory  gave, 
And  once  again  he  shall  us  save, 
Our  armies  bold  commanding. 


Here  's  to  the  gallant  Tar,  boys, 

Whose  cannon's  roar  our  foe  annoys, 
Here 's  to  the  gallant  Tar,  boys, 

His  country's  cause  defending ; 
For  warlike  Truxton's  noble  name, 
Like  Nelson's  shall  extend  his  fame, 
And  loud  through  all  the  earth  proclaim 
His  glory,  never  ending. 

IV. 

Here 's  to  our  native  land,  boys, 

Land  of  liberty  and  joys, 
Here 's  to  our  native  land,  boys, 

Your  glasses  raise  for  drinking ; 
And  he  that  will  not  drink  this  toast, 
May  he  in  France  of  freedom  boast, 
There  dangling  on  a  lantern  post, 

Or  in  the  Rhone  be  sinking. 

v. 

Here 's  to  our  Vermont  Fair,  boys, 

Pledges  bright  of  Federal  joys, 
Here 's  to  our  Vermont  Fair,  boys, 

Fill  high  to  Love  and  Beauty; 
For  while  we  toast  their  glowing  charms, 
Their  virtue  every  bosom  warms, 
We  '11  die  to  guard  them  safe  from  harms ; 

It  is  a  Federal  duty. 


ROYAL    TYLER.  209 


Here  's  to  Vermont  state,  boys, 
And  all  her  manly  rustic  joys, 
Here  's  to  Vermont  state,  boys, 
Columbia's  brave  defender; 
For  while  our  pines  ascend  on  high, 
And  while  our  mountains  mock  the  sky, 
Our  Independence,  Liberty, 
We  never  will  surrender. 

VII. 

Here 's  to  the  Sage  of  Quincy,  boys, 

Legal  head  of  all  our  joys, 
Here 's  to  the  Sage  of  Quincy,  boys, 

Who  guards  us  while  we  're  drinking  ; 
For  while  we  quaff  the  boozy  wine, 
And  sense  and  tipsy  mirth  combine, 
With  temperate  head  he  sits  sublime, 

And  for  our  good  is  thinking. 

VIII. 

Now  come  join  hand  in  hand,  boys, 

Mystic  type  of  Federal  joys, 
Now  come  join  hand  in  hand,  boys, 

Like  brother,  brother  greeting ; 
For  while  our  union  we  pursue, 
'Tis  I  and  he,  and  you  and  you, 
Our  pleasure  all  may  yet  renew, 

At  our  next  Federal  meeting. 

In  1799,  Tyler  published,  in  two  volumes,  a  novel, 
entitled  "  The  Algerine  Captive :  or  the  Life  and  Ad 
ventures  of  Captain  Updike  Underbill,  six  years  a 
prisoner  among  the  Algerines."  It  was  popular,  in  its 
day,  and  sold  rapidly,  but  is  now  entirely  out  of  the 
market.  About  the  year  1800,  he  was  elected  by  the 
Legislature  of  Vermont,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Superior 
Court,  —  an  office,  which  he  held  by  annual  reelection, 
for  a  number  of  years.  While  he  held  this  important 
place,  his  literary  taste  was  in  constant  exercise.  He 
18* 


210 

wrote  many  articles  for  the  Port  Folio,  and  some  for 
other  papers.  At  a  later  period  he  communicated  many 
pieces  for  the  New-England  Galaxy,  written  in  his  own 
peculiarly  humorous  style.  He  died  at  Brattleboro',  in 
1826.  For  several  years  before  his  death,  he  suffered 
much  from  a  cancer  in  the  face,  which  compelled  him  to 
withdraw  himself  from  all  society,  except  that  of  his 
family  and  most  intimate  friends.  No  collection  of  his 
writings  has  ever  been  published. 

The  articles,  entitled  "  Common  Sense  in  Dishabille," 
were  written  by  DAVID  EVERETT,  at  that  time  a  lawyer 
in  Boston.  This  gentleman  was  left  an  orphan  at  a 
very  early  age,  and  was  indebted  for  support  to  some  of 
his  relatives  living  in  the  county  of  Norfolk,  Mass. 
He  had  an  overpowering  ambition  for  a  better  education 
than  could  be  obtained  at  the  common  schools  in  the 
country,  and  by  industry  and  perseverance,  he  fitted 
himself  for  college.  He  graduated  at  Dartmouth  about 
the  year  1796;  afterwards  studied  law  in  Boston;  and, 
while  pursuing  that  study,  was  an  usher  in  one  of  the 
public  schools.  In  due  time,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Boston.  He 
was  a  fluent  and  ready  writer,  and  the  columns  of  Rus 
sell's  Boston  Gazette,  and  some  other  newspapers,  from 
1796  to  1802,  bear  testimony  to  his  talent  and  industry. 
He  was  contributor  to  a  small  literary  paper  called 
"  The  Nightingale,"  in  1796,  and,  about  the  same  time 
wrote  a  tragedy  in  blank  verse,  called  "  Daranzel,  or  the 
Persian  Patriot."  In  1802,  he  removed  to  Amherst, 
N.  H.  but  returned  to  Boston  in  the  course  of  six  or 
seven  years.  In  1809,  in  connection  with  Munroe  & 
French,  he  established  the  Boston  Patriot,  which  he 


DAVID    EVERETT.  211 

edited  for  two  or  three  years,  and  left  it  for  the  purpose 
of  editing  "The  Pilot,"  a  paper,  that  was  got  up  in 
1812,  to  aid  the  election  of  Dewitt  Clinton  to  the  office 
of  President  of  the  United  States.  While  editor  of  the 
Patriot  he  wrote  a  series  of  essays,  explanatory  of  the 
Apocalypse,  which  were  afterwards  published  in  a  pam 
phlet.  The  Pilot  was  a  short-lived  paper,  and  existed 
only  during  the  political  campaign  of  1812.  Not  long 
after  this,  Mr.  Everett  left  Boston  for  Ohio,  and  died  in 
that  state  in  1817.  The  numbers  of  "  Common  Sense 
in  Dishabille"  were  re-published  in  many  of  the  news 
papers,  and  were  afterwards  collected  and  printed  in  a 
small  volume.  The  following  is  the  first  number :  — 

COMMON    SENSE    IN    DISHABILLE. 
NO.  I. 

"  Refined  sense  and  exalted  sense,  are  not  half  so  good  as  common 
sense,"  says  one  author ;  "  common  sense  is  the  best  sense  in  the  world," 
says  another.  Follow  its  dictates,  says  my  pen.  It  will  serve  better  to 
keep  you  out  of  fire  and  water,  and  I  may  add,  out  of  gaol,  too,  than 
the  philosophy  of  a  Newton,  the  genius  of  a  Dryden,  or  the  metaphysics 
of  an  Edwards.  Its  seeds  are  sown  in  thy  mental  garden,  good  reader ! 
cultivate  them  by  observation,  reflection,  and  reading  such  authors  as 
have  brought  them  to  the  greatest  perfection.  I  do  not  intend  by  this  to 
recommend  the  writings  of  Thomas  Pain  and  his  deistical  colleagues : 
I  had  rather  see  spiders'  webs  hanging  on  the  shelves  of  thy  library. 
Common  sense  is  of  a  peaceable,  contented  temper,  and  would  be  the 
very  last  to  declare  war  with  Heaven.  Its  counsels  will  assist  thee  in 
thy  domestic  economy  and  every  honest  employment  of  life ;  but  they 
will  differ  from  the  advice  of  the  professions  of  counselors  in  two  respects ; 
they  will  always  be  to  thy  advantage,  and  will  cost  thee  nothing.  It  will 
seldom  address  thee  in  Greek  or  Latin,  but  in  plain  English. 

Quit  your  pillow ;  and  go  about  your  business,  if  you  have  any,  is  its 
first  injunction;  if  not,  seek  some.  Let  the  sun's  first  beams  shine  on 
your  heads  in  the  morning,  and  you  shall  not  want  a  good  hat  to  defend 
your  head  against  its  scorching  rays  at  noon.  Earn  your  breakfast  be 
fore  you  eat  it,  and  the  sheriff  shall  not  deprive  you  of  your  supper. 
Pursue  your  calling  with  diligence,  and  your  creditor  shall  not  interrupt 
you.  Be  temperate,  and  the  physician  shall  look  in  vain  for  your  name 


212 

on  his  day-book.  If  you  have  a  small  farm,  or  a  trade,  that  will  sup 
port  your  family  and  add  a  hundred  dollars  a  year  to  your  capital,  be 
contented,  and  never  go  to  Boston,  or  Hartford,  or  New- York,  to  buy 
land  in  Georgia,  that  is  to  be  made  on  the  eighth  day  of  the  creation. 

ISAAC  STORY,  the  writer  of  the  articles  "From  the 
Shop  of  Peter  Quince,"  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
in  1793. 

Except  that,  which  follows,  all  his  contributions  were 
imitations  of  the  odes  of  Peter  Pindar,  alluding  to  inci 
dents  that  have  now  but  little  interest :  — 

A   PATRIOTIC    SONG. 

TUNE — President's  March. 

I. 

"  Lo !  I  quit  my  native  skies  — 
To  arms  !  my  patriot  sons  arise. 

Guard  your  freedom ,  rights  and  fame ; 
Guard  your  freedom,  rights  and  fame ; 
Preserve  the  clime,  your  fathers  gave ; 
Heaven's  sacred  boon  from  villains  save  — 
Lest  such  daring,  impious  foes, 
Your  grandeur  in  oblivion  close  — 
Your  virtue,  wisdom,  worth  decline, 
And  gasp,  convulsed,  at  freedom's  shrine. 
Rise !  my  sons,  to  arms  arise ! 
Guard  your  heaven  descended  prize ; 
Prove  to  France,  the  world,  and  me  — 
COLUMBIA'S  SONS  ARE  BRAVE  AND  FREE." 

ii. 

We  hear,  blest  shade,  your  warning  voice ; 
Approve  your  call  —  pursue  your  choice  — 

With  hearts  united,  firm  and  free, 

With  hearts  united,  firm  and  free. 
The  sacred  boon  your  valor  won, 
Shall  wake  to  arms  each  patriot  son ; 

And  glowing  with  the  glorious  cause, 

Of  freedom,  country,  riyhts  and  laws  — 
The  storm  of  worlds  our  arms  will  brave, 
Or  sink  with  freedom  to  the  grave. 


ISAAC    STORY.  213 

Peaceful,  seek  your  native  skies  — 

L/o !  to  arms  your  sons  arise ; 

Firm  and  fixed  our  foes  to  brave, 

Till  heaven's  trump  shall  burst  the  grave. 

in. 

"  Worthy  sons  of  glorious  sires  ! 
Behold,  the  warning  shade  retires ; 

Pleased  your  martial  fame  to  spread  — 
Pleased  your  martial  fame  to  spread  — 
Where  immortal  patriots  stand, 
Watching  freedom's  favorite  land ; 
Charmed  to  hear  such  deeds  of  fame, 
In  holy  choir  they  '11  breathe  your  name, 
Till  ancient  heroes  catch  the  sound, 
And  thus  the  heavens  with  joy  rebound  — 
Happy  nation !  brave  and  free ; 
Friends  to  man  and  liberty  — 
Long  enjoy  the  sacred  boon, 
Which  immortal  valor  won." 

IV. 

Illustrious  shade,  to  thee  we  swear, 
To  freedom's  altar  we  '11  repair ; 
And,  like  a  band  of  Spartans,  brave, 
And,  like  a  band  of  Spartans,  brave, 
To  Pluto's  realm  each  foe  convey  — 
O'er  lawless  tyrants  bear  the  sway  — 
Till  freedom's  banner  is  unfurled, 
And  waves  around  the  darkened  world  j 
Till  from  the  centre  to  each  pole, 
In  rapturous  sounds  shall  constant  roll  — 
Hail !  sweet  freedom,  gift  divine  — 
Lo !  we  bend  before  thy  shrine, 
Firmly  fixed  on  this  decree  — 

To    FOLLOW   DEATH,   Or   LIBERTY. 

THOMAS  G.  FESSENDEN,  son  of  the  Rev.  William 
Fessenden,  the  minister  of  Walpole,  graduated  at  Dart 
mouth  College,  in  1796.  While  in  college,  he  had 
gained  notoriety  by  writing  poetical  trifles,  and  particu 
larly  by  a  Yankee  ballad,  called  "  Jonathan's  Courtship," 


214 

which  had  been  published  in  a  pamphlet  and  secured  for 
its  author  an  uncommon  share  of  popularity  among  the 
rural  population.  The  most  important  of  his  contribu 
tions  to  the  Museum  were  signed  "  Simon  Spunkey," 
and  were  written  in  the  Hudibrastic  style,  satirizing 
French  and  democratic  politics.  His  Ode  for  the  New 
Year,  1798,  filled  a  whole  page  of  the  Museum,  and 
thus  it  began  :  — 

Old  Time,  a  persevering  codger, 
Like  debtor  dunned,  a  nimble  dodger, 
Who,  having  scampered  one  inch  by  you, 
Will  never  afterwards  come  nigh  you ;  — 
Whose  foretop  one  might  hide  a  cat  in, 
But  bald  behind  as  school-boy's  Latin ;  — 
Who  never  yet,  by  saint  or  sinner, 
Was  bribed,  to  stay  till  after  dinner ;  — 
Who  never  bates  his  usual  jog, 
Nor  stops  his  steed  for  oats  or  grog, 
But  Jehu -like,  drives  all  the  world  round, 
As  swift  as  top  by  truant  twirled  round;  — 
Who  lowers  at  love-sick  poetaster, 
But  puffs  productions  of  a  master ;  — 
Before  whom  grandeur's  gorgeous  palaces 
Melt,  like  a  dream's  fantastic  fallacies ;  — 
Now  jogs  the  band  with  shag-bark  elbow, 
And  aims  with  lifted  scythe  a  fell  blow 
To  level  Simon's  reputation, 
Unless  the  poet  scrawl  narration, 
A  kind  of  Hudibrastic  summary, 
Of  politics  and  other  flummery, 
Of  matters  tragical  and  queer, 
Which  mark  the  annals  of  last  year ;  — 
And,  with  a  congee,  low  and  pleasant, 
Wish  people  happy  through  the  present. 
Now,  gentle  reader,  take  the  trouble 
To  mount  my  nag,  —  he  carries  double,  — 
I  mean  my  Pegasus  so  antic, 
And  bid  him  canter  'cross  the  Atlantic, 
While  we,  as  close  as  bride  and  groom,  stick, 
And  ride,  like  witches  on  a  broom-stick. 


THOMAS    G.    FESSENDEN.  215 

The  poet  proceeds  to  review  the  principal  events  that 
had  happened  in  Europe  during  the  preceding  year,  and 
then 

From  Europe  turns  his  bounding  Pegasus 
Where  fighting  fellows  make  a  plaguy  fuss, 
To  blithe  Columbia's  peaceful  shores, 
"Where  no  rude  din  of  battle  roars, 
Where  Plenty  fills  her  wicker  basket, 
And  Wealth  unlocks  his  golden  casket ; 
Health  strings  the  nerves  of  every  farmer, 
And  tints  the  cheek  of  ruddy  charmer ; 
Where  once  was  nought  but  desert  howling, 
With  swamps,  scarce  fit  to  pasture  owl  in ; 
Where  meagre  famine  often  drilled  us, 
Where  Indians  tomahawked  and  killed  us, 
We  quaff  the  bumper,  smoke  cigar, 
Nor  dread  the  howl  of  Indian  war ; 
Where  lately  stood  but  two  or  three  men, 
Are  many  hardy  bands  of  freemen, 
&c.  &c.  &c. 

Some  severe  touches  at  the  printers  and  editors  of 
Jacobin  papers,  at  members  of  Congress,  and  other  politi 
cians,  and  various  topics  of  public  interest,  fill  up  the 
poem.  It  was  in  that  year,  that  the  frigate  Constitution 
was  built  in  Boston.  On  the  day  appointed  for  the 
launch,  an  immense  crowd  assembled  to  witness  the  pas 
sage  of  the  ship  into  the  water ;  but  from  defect  in  the 
preparatory  steps,  the  workmen  were  unable  to  get  it 
from  the  stocks,  and,  of  course,  there  was  no  launch, 
until  several  days  afterwards.  This  circumstance  is  thus 
referred  to :  — 

But  man  is  under  contribution, 

To  sing  the  frigate  Constitution, 

Lest  this,  our  pithy  Ode,  be  lost  on 

Commercial  wits  and  tars  of  Boston. 

Bostonians  built  a  stately  frigate, 

And  undertook  to  man  and  rig  it, 


216  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 

Which  set  Sedition's  sons  a-scowling, 
And  maddened  Jacobins  to  howling. 
The  foresaid  frigate,  on  a  day, 
Appointed  was  to  glide  away, 
To  hoary  Ocean's  oozy  bed, 
With  Neptune  then  and  there  to  wed. 
The  wished-for  day  arrived,  when  lo  ! 
Miss  Constitution  would  not  go. 
How  Jacobinic  sinners  scoff, 
Because  she  fails  to  travel  off! 
They  swore  she  was  prophetic  wench, 
And  foresaw  trouble  from  the  French, 
If  she  to  federal  folly  kept  tune, 
And  sought  the  arms  of  Master  Neptune. 
At  length,  in  merry  mood  she  went  in, 
And  floats  her  natural  element  in, 
And  may  she  ever  triumph  there, 
The  watery  god's  peculiar  care. 

After  a  compliment  to  the  printer  and  the  writers  of 
the  Museum,  he  concludes  in  this  strain :  — 

Now,  Courteous  Eeader,  since  a  while 
To  sing,  in  Delia  Cruscan  style, 
By  frolic  Fancy  borne  along, 
We  stemmed  the  cataract  of  song  ! 
'Tis  time,  I  think,  with  aching  heart, 
For  Muse  and  you  and  I  to  part ; 
Still  cherishing  the  hope,  however, 
That  we  three  gentlefolks  so  clever, 
When  eke  another  season  passes, 
May  meet  on  summit  of  Parnassus  ; 
Like  crazy  Sybil,  who  did  mutter  once, 
As  sage  Apollo  gave  her  utterance, 
To  trill  a  new-year's  ode  sublimer 
Than  ever  flowed  from  lips  of  rhymer. 

Fessenden  had  the  common-place  book  of  Yankee 
comparisons  always  at  the  nib  of  his  pen.  Here  is  one 
of  his  pieces,  —  not  political,  —  ludicrously  rich  in  these 
sportive  metaphors  :  — 


THOMAS    G.    FESSENDEN.  217 

PETER    PERIWINKLE,    TO    TABITHA    TOWZER. 

A   MOST   DELICATE   LOVE    SONG. 

My  TABITHA  TOWZER  is  fair, 

No  guiiiea  pig  ever  was  neater, 
Like  a  hackmatak  slender  and  spare, 

And  sweet  as  a  musk-rat,  or  sweeter  ! 

My  TABITHA  TOWZER  is  sleek, 

When  dressed  in  her  pretty  new  tucker, 
Like  an  otter  that  paddles  the  creek, 

In  quest  of  a  pout,  or  a  sucker  ! 

Her  forehead  is  smooth  as  a  tray, 

Nay  smoother  than  that,  on  my  soul, 
Arid  turned,  as  a  body  may  say, 

Like  a  delicate,  neat  wooden  bowl. 

To  what  shall  I  liken  her  hair, 

So  pretty,  so  flowing  and  fine  ? 
For  similes  sure  must  be  rare, 

When  we  speak  of  a  nymph  so  divine. 

Not  the  head  of  a  Nazarite  seer, 

That  never  was  shaven  nor  shorn  ; 
Nought  equals  the  locks  of  my  dear, 

But  the  silk  of  an  ear  of  green  corn. 

My  dearest  has  two  pretty  eyes, 

Glass  buttons  shone  never  so  bright, 
Their  lustre  pellucid  outvies 

The  bug  that  oft  twinkles  by  night. 

My  dear  has  a  beautiful  nose, 

With  a  sled-runner  crook  in  the  middle, 
Which  one  would  be  led  to  suppose, 

Was  meant  for  the  head  of  a  fiddle. 

The  lips  of  my  charmer  are  sweet, 

As  a  hogshead  of  maple  molasses, 
The  ruby  red  tint  of  her  cheek, 

The  gill  of  a  salmon  surpasses. 

Description  must  fail  in  her  chin, 

At  least  till  our  language  is  richer, 
'Tis  fairer  than  dipper  of  tin, 

Or  beautiful  china  cream  pitcher. 
VOL.    II.  19 


218  FARMER'S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 

So  pretty  a  neck,  I  '11  be  bound, 

Never  joined  head  and  body  together, 
Like  a  crooked  necked  squash  on  the  ground, 

Long  whitened  by  winter-like  weather. 

Should  I  mention  her  gait,  or  her  air, 

You  might  think  I  intended  to  banter ; 
She  moves  with  more  grace  you  would  swear, 

Than  a  foundered  horse  forced  to  a  canter  ! 

Should  I  speak  of  the  rest  of  her  charms, 
I  might,  by  some  phrase  that 's  improper, 

Give  modesty's  bosom  alarms, 

Which  I  would  not  do  for  a  copper. 

I  felt  t'  other  day  very  droll, 

As  by  her  I  chanced  to  be  marching, 
My  heart  waxed  hot  as  a  coal, 

And  hopped  like  a  pea,  that  is  parching ! 

I  '11  trudge  away  one  of  these  nights, 

To  see  my  delectable  creature, 
I  '11  tell  her  'tis  hard  if  she  slights 

Her  pining,  poetical  PETEK. 

But  then  I  '11  be  surly  and  sad, 

Should  she  cruelly  send  me  a  jogging, 
Like  a  bully,  when  some  spunky  lad, 

Gives  the  quarrelsome  devil  a  flogging ! 

I  '11  tell  her,  "  t'  wont  answer  for  me, 

To  be  whining  about  you  so  idle, 
Should  you  give  me  the  bag,  d'  ye  see, 

I  '11  hang  my  'nown  self,'  with  a  bridle  !  " 

The  expenses  of  his  education  at  Dartmouth  Col 
lege,  Fessenden  defrayed  chiefly  by  his  own  exertions. 
During  the  vacations,  he  added  to  his  slender  means  by 
instructing  a  village  school,  and  occasionally  procured 
some  further  addition  to  his  finances  by  teaching  psalm 
ody  several  evenings  in  the  week,  after  finishing  his  daily 
task  as  a  schoolmaster.  In  the  autumn  of  1796,  he 
commenced  the  study  of  the  law  at  Rutland,  Vermont. 


THOMAS    G.    FESSENDEN.  219 

After  completing  his  preparatory  studies,  he  formed  a 
partnership,  as  a  practitioner,  with  Nathaniel  Chipman, 
—  a  gentleman  then  eminent  for  legal,  literary,  and 
scientific  attainments,  and  afterwards  a  judge  of  the 
superior  court. 

In  1801,  he  was  employed  as  an  agent  fora  company 
formed  in  Vermont,  for  the  purpose  of  securing,  in  Lon 
don,  a  patent  for  a  newly-invented  hydraulic  machine.  He 
spent  some  time  in  London,  and  while  there,  wrote  one  of 
his  principal  poems,  namely,  "  The  Modern  Philosopher, 
or  Terrible  Tractoration !  By  Christopher  Caustick, 
M.  D.,  A.  S.  S."  &tc.  which  ran  through  two  or  three 
editions  in  England,  and  three  in  the  United  States. 
After  his  return,  he  published  another  poem,  entitled 
"  Democracy  unveiled  ;  or  Tyranny  stripped  of  the 
Garb  of  Patriotism."  The  first  of  these  is  a  satire  on 
medical  quackery ;  the  second,  a  scourge  for  the  demo 
cratic  politicians.  Both  these  poems  are  written  in  the 
Hudibrastic  verse,  and,  though  now  seldom  read,  and  but 
little  known,  will  always  be  valued  by  those,  who  take 
pleasure  in  reviewing  the  vagaries  and  caprices  of  scien 
tific  men,  and  the  wrangling  of  politicians. 

In  1803,  Fessenden  was  the  editor  of  a  weekly  politi 
cal  paper  in  New-York,  the  title  of  which,  if  my  memory 
serves  me,  was  "  The  Investigator."  It  was  printed  in 
the  octavo  form.  Its  existence  was  brief  and  unprofit 
able.  About  this  time,  he  revised  his  two  poems, — 
mentioned  above,  —  and  made  considerable  additions  to 
both.  The  notes  are  copious  and  entertaining. 

Tired  of  writing  upon  politics,  Fessenden  retired  to 
the  vicinity  of  his  native  place,  and  gave  his  attention 
to  less  exciting  but  more  useful  discussions.  He  was, 
for  a  time,  the  editor  of  a  paper  printed  at  Bellows  Falls, 


FARMER  S  WEEKLY  MUSEUM. 

in  Vermont,  which  he  made  a  useful  vehicle  of  rural  and 
agricultural  amusement  and  instruction  ;  and  compiled  a 
small  volume  of  recipes  and  maxims,  adapted  to  the  use 
of  farmers  and  mechanics. 

Mn  1822,  a  paper  called  the  "New-England  Farmer" 
was  established  in  Boston,  and  Mr.  Fessenden  was  regu 
larly  installed  as  its  editor,  —  a  place  which  he  filled  till 
his  death.  In  conducting  this  paper  he  displayed  untir 
ing  industry  inxXJollecting  all  sorts  of  information,  that 
could  be  serviceable  to  agriculturists  and  gardeners  in 
their  domestic  operations  ^nd  though  he  had  but  little 
practical  knowledge  of  agriculture,  he  managed  by  the 
aid  of  others,  and  by  constantly  consulting  the  best 
authors,  to  make  the  Farmer  an  interesting  and  highly 
useful  paper.  Among  his  correspondents  and  advisers 
were  those  scientific  agriculturists,  the  late  John  Lowell, 
John  Prince,  and  Peter  C.  Brooks,  and  John  Welles  and 
Josiah  Quincy,  who  are  still  living.  While  engaged  in 
editing  this  paper,  he  compiled  and  published  several 
volumes,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the  rural  population 
in  farming  and  gardening. 

Mr.  Fessenden.  after  two  days  illness,  died  on  the 
10th  of  November,  1837,  aged  sixty-five.  He  was 
buried  at  Mount  Auburn.  Over  his  remains,  his  friends 
erected  a  monument,  which  bears  the  following  inscrip 
tion  :  — 

THOMAS  GREEN  FESSENDEN, 
died  Nov.  11,  1837: 

aged    65. 

This  monument  is  erected  by  the  Massachusetts  Society  for  promot 
ing  agriculture  —  by  the  Horticultural  Society  of  Massachusetts,  and 
individuals,  as  a  testimony  of  respect  for  the  talents  and  acquirements 
of  the  deceased,  and  his  labors  in  promoting  the  objects  of  the  above 
institutions. 


THE   FEDERAL   ORRERY. 


THE  publication  of  the  Federal  Orrery  was  begun 
October  20,  1794.  It  was  edited  by  THOMAS  PAINE, 
and  printed  by  Weld  &  Greenough,  at  No.  42  Corn- 
hill,  —  now  Washington-street,  —  Boston.  It  was  pub 
lished  semi-weekly,  on  Monday  and  Thursday,  at  the 
price  of  two  dollars  and  a  half  a  year.  Mr.  Paine  was 
the  projector,  and,  probably,  the  sole  proprietor  of  the 
paper.  He  had  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1792, 
with  a  reputation  for  scholarship  and  literary  talent, 
much  above  the  ordinary  rank,  and  his  proposals  for 
publishing  the  Orrery  were  received  by  the  public  with 
extraordinary  favor. 

The  subscription  to  the  paper,  even  before  the  appear 
ance  of  the  first  number,  was  exceedingly  liberal  —  sur 
passing  that,  which  had  been  given  beforehand,  to  any 
other  Boston  paper.  The  following  is  his  opening 
address 

19* 


222  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

TO   THE  PUBLIC. 

Confiding  in  the  smiles  of  an  indulgent  and  generous  public,  the 
editor  of  the  Orrery  is  enabled  to  anticipate  the  earliest  period,  which 
his  most  sanguine  hopes  had  contemplated,  as  the  commencement  of 
his  publication.  Under  auspices  so  flattering,  were  he  to  procrastinate, 
but  for  a  day,  the  active  execution  of  his  office,  he  would  be  guilty  of 
ingratitude  to  that  republican  liberality,  which  has  so  universally  coun 
tenanced,  and  that  literary  friendship,  which  has  so  splendidly  supported, 
his  proposals. 

To  the  sous  and  daughters  of  science  and  taste,  he  returns  his  most 
respectful  thanks  for  the  reception  of  many  elegant  favors; — to  the 
merchants  of  this  metropolis,  he  feels  a  deep  obligation  for  the  exten 
sive  circulation,  to  which  they  have  so  greatly  contributed;  —  and  to 
every  description  of  his  numerous  friends,  he  presents  the  warm  tribute 
of  grateful  acknowledgement. 

In  the  prosecution  of  a  work,  whose  birth  has  been  propitiated  by  an 
unprecedented  patronage,  the  editor  will  most  rigidly  adhere  to  those 
principles  of  impartiality,  which  he  professed  in  his  proposals.  Specu 
lations,  whether  moral  or  political,  will  find  a  ready  insertion ;  and  any 
strictures,  in  answer,  will  be  equally  acceptable.  The  Orrery  will  be 
the  agent  of  all  parties,  but  the  slave  of  none.  As  subjects  of  discus 
sion,  it  will  never  be  the  trumpeter  or  the  denouncer,  of  public  men  or 
national  measures  :  —  Republicans  have  the  eye  of  an  eagle,  and  can 
penetrate  their  spots,  while  they  admire  their  splendor.  The  adminis 
trators  of  a  free  government  should  expect  the  scrutiny  of  their  politi 
cal  creators ;  —  but  the  demon  of  private  slander  shall  never  conduct 
the  orbit  of  the  smallest  satellite,  that  twinkles  in  the  horizon  of  the 
Orrery. 

The  promises  held  out  in  the  prospectus,  and  the  high 
literary  reputation  of  the  editor,  led  to  anticipations, 
which,  it  is  unpleasant  to  say,  were  but  partially  real 
ized.  Public  expectation  was  not  satisfied.  The  editor 
devoted  much  of  his  time  to  other  pursuits,  and  entrusted 
the  care  of  his  subscription  list  and  the  accounts  of  his 
advertising  customers,  to  those,  who  were  unfaithful  or 
incompetent.  That  constancy  of  attention,  which  is 
the  imperative  duty  of  an  editor  and  publisher,  became 
irksome,  and,  of  course  was  too  often  neglected.  After 


THOMAS    PAINE.  223 

publishing  three  volumes,  of  fifty-two  numbers  each, 
Paine  abandoned  the  establishment,  and  it  was  sold  to 
Benjamin  Sweetser,  in  whose  hands  it  expired. 

The  Orrery  took  a  decided  stand  in  favor  of  the  fed 
eral  party  ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  complacent  tone  of 
the  prospectus,  was  not  remarkable  for  urbanity  in  its 
intercourse  with  political  antagonists.  Toward  the  Ja 
cobin  clubs,  and  especially  in  reference  to  the  Chronicle 
and  its  correspondents,  it  was  fierce  in  its  opposition, 
merciless  in  ridicule,  and  implacable  in  resentment. 

A  number  of  writers  contributed  to  fill  the  columns 
of  the  Orrery  —  chiefly  on  politics  ;  but  the  most  re 
markable  portion  of  the  political  matter  was  a  series  of 
papers,  entitled  "  Remarks  on  the  Jacobiniad,"  and 
these  contributed  largely  to  its  notoriety  and  circula 
tion.  They  were  introduced  by  a  note,  signed  X.  Z. 
and  dated  at  Worcester.  The  writer  says  —  "I  am 
requested,  by  a  critical  friend,  to  send  you  the  following 
remarks  on  a  poem,  that  deserves,  I  think,  to  be  better 
known.  He  informs  me,  that  there  were  but  few  copies 
of  the  poem  struck  off  for  some  particular  friends,  and 
that  the  author's  name  is  a  secret."  It  will  be  under 
stood  that  no  such  poem  had  been  printed  or  written  ; 
but  that  the  writer  chose  this  mode  of  satirizing  and 
caricaturing  the  most  prominent  persons  in  the  Jacobin 
club  of  Boston.  The  "  Remarks "  are  interspersed 
with  extracts  from  the  imaginary  Poem,  —  almost  every 
couplet  of  which  was  a  sharp-edged  satire  or  galling 
lampoon.  The  portraits,  thus  hung  up  to  public  ridi 
cule,  were  too  like  the  original,  not  to  be  readily  recog 
nized.  They  were  sometimes  designated  by  the  real 
names  of  the  persons  they  were  intended  to  expose, 
and,  at  others,  by  letters  corresponding  to  the  number 


224  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

of  syllables.  The  persons  thus  attacked  were  stung  to 
madness.  In  one  instance,  a  personal  assault  on  the 
editor  of  the  Orrery,  in  one  of  the  most  public  places  in 
State-street,  was  the  consequence  of  one  of  the  "  Re 
marks."  I  refrain  from  making  extracts  from  these 
papers,  for  the  reason,  that  very  few  readers  would 
understand  their  application,  without  the  accompaniment 
of  notes,  biographical  and  historical,  which  it  is  not  in 
my  power  to  prepare  ;  and  the  preparation  of  which 
would  be  thought  by  some  an  ungracious  act.  The 
political  asperities,  which  tormented  society  at  that 
period,  have  been  softened  by  the  all-subduing  hand  of 
time ;  the  clamor  of  the  old  party  hostilities  long  ago 
subsided  ;  the  slumber  of  years  has  crept  over  the  fires, 
which  then  heated  the  blood  and  flamed  in  the  bosoms 
of  Federalists  and  Jacobins  ;  and  it  might  be  unkind  to 
rake  from  the  ashes  a  single  spark,  to  awaken  individual 
sensibilities  from  the  oblivion  of  nearly  half  a  century. 

The  authorship  of  the  "  Remarks  on  the  Jacobiniad  " 
was  attributed  to  the  Rev.  John  S.  J.  Gardiner,  then 
assistant  rector  of  Trinity  church,  Boston  ;  and  he  was 
bitterly  and  ferociously  assailed  in  Edes's  Boston  Ga 
zette  and  in  the  Chronicle,  on  the  presumption  that  he 
was  the  author.  I  am  not  aware  that  the  imputation 
was  either  admitted  or  denied.  Soon  after  their  appear 
ance  in  the  Orrery,  the  numbers  were  published  in  a 
duodecimo  volume,  embellished  with  caricature  likenesses 
of  many  of  those,  against  whom  the  unmerciful  satire  of 
the  author  was  directed.  The  book  is  not  now  to  be 
found,  but  in  the  libraries  of  the  book-worm  and  the 
antiquarian. 

When  the  Orrery  first  appeared  it  was  expected  that 
Mrs.  Morton,  —  a  lady,  who  had  delighted  the  public 


THOMAS     PAINE.  225 

with  some  of  her  poetical  effusions,  —  would  be  a  liberal 
contributor  to  its  columns.  A  poetical  correspondence, 
between  her  and  Paine,  under  the  signatures  of  "  Phile- 
nia  "  and  "  Menander,"  had  been  previously  carried  on 
in  the  Massachusetts  Magazine  and  in  some  of  the  news 
papers.  Mrs.  Morton  had  also  published  a  poem,  enti 
tled  "Beacon  Hill," — a  production  of  much  merit,  but 
now  almost  forgotten.  Her  poetry  was  then  read  with 
avidity,  and  generally  admired,  and  the  expectation  of 
seeing  many  of  her  productions  in  the  Orrery,  aided  it 
in  its  claim  to  popularity.  But  there  is  very  little  of  her 
writing  to  be  found  in  it,  and  that  little,  is  of  an  uninter 
esting  character.  Her  contributions  were  discontinued 
before  the  close  of  the  first  volume. 

The  oblivion,  which  has  fallen  upon  the  literary  repu 
tation  of  Mrs.  Morton,  affords  a  melancholy  lesson  to 
the  poets  of  the  present  generation,  who  are  crowding 
the  avenues  to  public  favor.  Fifty  years  ago,  —  one 
little  half  century, — the  Poems  of  Philenia  were  as 
popular  as  those  of  the  most  popular  of  the  magazine 
poets,  of  the  year  1850.  About  twenty-five  years  ago, 
they  were  published  in  an  imposing  octavo,  by  one  of 
the  Boston  booksellers  ;  and  the  question  was  then  often 
asked,  who  is  Philenia  ?  Who  is  Mrs.  Morton  ?  But 
that  octavo,  it  is  presumed,  is  not  now  to  be  found, 
except  in  some  public  library,  or  in  those  repositories  of 
"antique  books,"  kept  in  Cornhill  by  Messrs.  Drake 
&,  Burnham.  Yet  which  of  the  ladies,  who  write  for  the 
Magazines,  the  Souvenirs,  and  the  Forget-me-nots,  have 
produced  any  thing  sweeter  and  purer,  than  the  follow 
ing  Hymn,  written  by  Mrs.  Morton  for  the  anniversary 
celebration  of  the  Humane  Society  ? 


226  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

KEANIMATION. 

Who,  from  the  shades  of  gloomy  night, 
When  the  last  tear  of  hope  is  shed, 
Can  bid  the  soul  return  to  light, 
And  break  the  slumber  of  the  dead  ? 

!No  human  skill  that  heart  can  warm, 
Which  the  cold  blast  of  nature  froze ; 
Recall  to  life  the  perished  form ; 
The  secret  of  the  grave  disclose. 

But  thou,  our  saving  God,  we  know, 
Canst  arm  the  mortal  hand  with  power 
To  bid  the  stagnant  pulses  flow, 
The  animating  heart  restore. 

Thy  will,  ere  nature's  tutored  hand 
Could  with  young  life  these  limbs  unfold ; 
Did  the  imprisoned  brain  expand, 
And  all  its  countless  fibres  told. 

As  from  the  dust,  thy  forming  breath 
Could  the  unconscious  being  raise ; 
So  can  the  silent  voice  of  death 
Wake  at  thy  call  in  songs  of  praise. 

Since  twice  to  die  is  ours  alone, 
And  twice  the  birth  of  life  to  see  ; 
O  let  us,  suppliant  at  thy  throne, 
Devote  our  second  life  to  thee. 

The  concluding  stanza  was  intended  to  be  sung  by  per 
sons  who  had  been  reanimated  after  having  been  drowned. 

The  articles  in  the  Orrery  purporting  to  come  from 
"  the  Shop  of  Messrs.  Colon  &  Spondee,"  were  written 
by  Royal  Tyler  of  Guilford,  Vermont,  and  Joseph 
Dennie  —  gentlemen  much  better  known  a  few  years 
afterwards  in  connection  with  the  Farmer's  Museum. 
Their  first  communication  was  introduced  by  the  follow 
ing  advertisement:  — 

MESSRS.  COLON  &  SPONDEE  request  their  brother  haberdasher,  T.P. 
to  open  an  account  current  with  their  shop  at  the  foot  of  the  Green 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  227 

Mountain  ;  and  as  their  junior  partner  served  the  concluding  year  of  his 
apprenticeship  in  the  same  warehouse  of  Apollo,  clipped  the  tape  of 
rhetoric  with  the  same  scissors,  and  handled  the  yardstick  of  sentiment 
behind  the  same  counter,  they  doubt  not  of  his  ready  compliance  with 
the  credit  they  require. 

These  contributions  were  not  very  numerous,  nor 
remarkable  for  any  merit  that  requires  republication. 

A  series  of  articles  appeared  in  the  Orrery,  under  the 
head  of  "  Omnium  Gatherum,"  which  were  written  by 
the  late  WILLIAM  BIGLOW,  and  are  full  of  the  quiet  and 
gentle  humor,  for  which  that  gentleman  was,  all  his  life, 
celebrated.  In  the  first  number,  he  sketches  his  own 
life  and  character,  as  follows :  — 

I  was  born  in  a  small  country  village,  of  reputable,  industrious 
parents,  at  a  time  when  they  were  as  poor  as  poverty  herself.  Nothing 
remarkable  was  at  that  time  observed  in  me,  except  that  I  was,  in  the 
phrase  of  the  hamlet,  "a  desperate  cross  body."  This,  however,  must 
have  been  owing  to  some  indisposition  of  body ;  for  I  naturally  possess 
a  very  peaceable  temper. 

At  a  proper  age  I  was  sent  to  school  —  five  weeks,  in  winter,  to  a 
master,  who  could  read;  and  as  long,  in  summer,  to  an  old  maid,  who 
could  knit.  Possessing  a  strong  attachment  to  books,  I  soon  passed 
from  my  primer  to  my  psalter,  and  thence  in  a  short  time  to  my  Bible, 
which  were  the  only  books  we  used.  At  this  early  period  of  life,  I  pe 
rused  all  the  neighboring  libraries,  which  contained  "Pilgrim's  Pro 
gress,"  "  Day  of  Doom,"  and  many  other  compositions  equally  elegant 
and  entertaining. 

Among  my  schoolfellows,  I  was  so  peaceful  and  condescending,  that 
I  was  generally  denominated  a  coward.  But  that,  which  was  attributed  to 
pusillanimity,  was  rather  the  effect  of  good  nature.  However  violently 
enraged,  one  smile  from  my  adversary  would  instantaneously  assuage 
my  anger,  and  determine  me  to  become  his  faithful  friend. 

Though  this  complaisance  led  my  schoolmates  to  practise  many  impo 
sitions  upon  me,  yet  I  esteemed  this  inconvenience  sufficiently  compen 
sated,  as  it  caused  me  to  become  a  great  favorite  of  my  old  grandmother. 
So  great  was  her  esteem  for  me,  that  she  took  me,  at  a  very  early  age, 
to  wait  on  her,  and  my  venerable  old  grandfather.  In  this  situation  I 
passed  several  years  ;  and,  as  constantly  as  Saturday  night  came  round, 
I  very  piously  said  my  catechism,  and  supped  on  hasty-pudding;  and, 


228  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

with  equal  devotion,  rode  to  meeting  011  Sunday,  and  carried  my  aunt 
behind  me  on  a  pillion. 

There  began  my  poetical  career,  by  composing  "  a  ballad,  containing 
a  true  and  surprising  account  of  how  the  Deacon's  son  ivent  a  courting,  lost 
his  saddle,  and  found  it  again"  which  had  a  great  run  in  the  village. 
This  circumstance  added  to  my  former  fame  at  school ;  and  my  great 
aversion  to  every  species  of  manual  labor  determined  my  father  to  give 
me  a  public  education.  I  was  accordingly  sent  to  our  parson's,  where 
I  attended  closely  and  entirely  to  my  studies,  and,  in  a  short  time, 
became  a  member  of  the  university. 

When  I  came  to  college,  I  was,  like  most  great  authors,  awkward 
and  bashful;  and  my  classmates  immediately  concluded  that  I  was 
either  a  fool  or  a  genius.  My  instructors,  however,  were  decidedly  of 
the  former  opinion.  I  was  by  no  means  an  idle  fellow ;  but  I  paid  very 
little  attention  to  the  stated  exercises  of  the  college,  choosing  rather  to 
follow  my  own  inclinations,  than  those  of  my  governors.  I  studiously 
avoided  cultivating  an  acquaintance  with  any,  except  a  few  selected 
classmates,  and  this  seclusion  continued  me  an  unpolished  country  fel 
low.  At  length  I  have  found  my  way  through,  and  have  retired  into  a 
neat  rural  village,  and  taken  a  small  school,  resolving  to  hide  myself 
from  the  noise,  insults,  and  injuries  of  the  world,  behind  my  own  insignifi 
cance.  I  here  pass  for  a  good  soul ;  and,  because  I  cannot  be  genteel, 
I  do  all  in  my  power  to  make  people  believe  that  I  will  not. 

Notwithstanding  I  have  passed  in  the  world,  thus  silent  and  unknown, 
I  have,  as  far  as  my  opportunities  would  permit,  made  very  accurate 
observations  upon  men  and  manners.  When  your  paper  made  its 
appearance  among  us,  I  concluded  that  some  of  my  compositions  might 
be  of  service  to  you,  and  determined  to  publish  them  periodically. 
#  *  *  #  After  this  explanation,  you  will  readily  perceive  what 
kind  of  fare  I  shall  be  likely  to  serve  up ;  and,  if  you  will  give  this  a 
place  in  your  literary  oglio,  I  will  do  my  endeavor  shortly  to  prepare  a 
still  more  palatable  morsel.  CHARLES  CHATTERBOX,  ESQ. 

The  next  number  of  "Omnium  Gatherum"  was  the 
following,  in  which  the  "  quaint  airs  of  the  laughter-lov 
ing  muse  "  cannot  fail  to  divert  the  imagination :  — 

A  WILL: 

Being  the  last  words  of  CHARLES  CHATTERBOX,  Esq.  late  worthy  and 
nmch  lamented  member  of  the  Laughing  Club  of  Harvard  University, 
whq  departed  college  life,  June  21,  1794,  in  the  twenty-first  year  of 

his  age. 

I,  CHARLEY  CHATTER,  sound  of  mind, 
To  making  fun  am  much  inclined ; 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  229 

So,  having  cause  to  apprehend 
My  college  life  is  near  its  end, 
All  future  quarrels  to  prevent, 
I  seal  this  will  and  testament. 

My  soul  and  body,  while  together, 
I  send  the  storms  of  life  to  weather; 
To  steer  as  safely  as  they  can, 
To  honor  GOD,  and  profit  man. 

Imprimis,  then,  my  bed  and  bedding, 

My  only  chattels,  worth  the  sledding, 

Consisting  of  a  maple  stead, 

A  counterpane,  and  coverlet, 

Two  cases  with  the  pillows  in, 

A  blanket,  cord,  a  winch  and  pin, 

Two  sheets,  a  feather  bed  and  hay-tick, 

I  order  sledded  up  to  Natick ; 

And  that  with  care  the  sledder  save  them 

For  those  kind  parents,  first  who  gave  them. 

Item.     The  Laughing  Club,  so  blest, 
Who  think  this  life,  what  'tis  —  a  jest,  — 
Collect  its  flowers  from  every  spray, 
And  laugh  its  goading  thorns  away ; 
From  whom  to-morrow  I  dissever, 
Take  one  sweet  grin,  and  leave  forever ; 
My  chest,  and  all  that  in  it  is, 
I  give  and  I  bequeath  them,  viz. : 
Westminster  grammar,  old  and  poor, 
Another  one,  compiled  by  MOOR  ; 
A  bunch  of  pamphlets  pro  and  con, 
The  doctrine  of  salva — ti: — on  ; 
The  college  laws,  I  'm  freed  from  minding, 
A  Hebrew  psalter,  stripped  from  binding. 
A  Hebrew  Bible,  too,  lies  nigh  it, 
Unsold  —  because  no  one  would  buy  it. 

My  manuscripts,  in  prose  and  verse, 
They  take  for  better  and  for  worse  ; 
Their  minds  enlighten  with  the  best, 
And  pipes  and  candles  with  the  rest ; 
Provided  that  from  them  they  cull 
My  college  exercises  dull, 
20 


230  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

On  threadbare  theme,  with  mind  unwilling, 
Strained  out  thro'  fear  of  fine  one  shilling, 
To  teachers  paid  t'  avert  an  evil, 
Like  Indian  worship  to  the  devil. 
The  above-named  manuscripts,  I  say, 
To  club  aforesaid  I  convey, 
Provided  that  said  themes,  so  given, 
Full  proofs  that  genius  won't  be  driven, 
To  our  physicians  be  presented, 
As  the  best  opiates  yet  invented. 

Item.    The  government  of  college, 
Those  liberal  helluos  of  knowledge, 
Who,  e'en  in  these  degenerate  days, 
Deserve  the  world's  unceasing  praise ; 
Who,  friends  of  science  and  of  men, 
Stand  forth  Gomorrah's  righteous  ten ; 
On  them  I  nought,  but  thanks,  bestow, 
For,  like  my  cash,  my  credit 's  low ; 
So  I  can  give  nor  clothes  nor  wines, 
But  bid  them  welcome  to  my  fines. 

Item.    My  study  desk  of  pine, 
That  workbench,  sacred  to  the  nine, 
Which  oft  hath  groan'd  beneath  my  metre, 
I  give  to  pay  my  debts  to  PETER. 

Item.     Two  penknives  with  white  handles, 

A  bunch  of  quills,  and  pound  of  candles, 

A  lexicon  compiled  by  COLE, 

A  pewter  spoon,  and  earthen  bowl, 

A  hammer,  and  two  homespun  towels, 

For  which  I  yearn  with  tender  bowels, 

Since  I  no  longer  can  control  them, 

I  leave  to  those  sly  lads,  who  stole  them. 

Item.    A  gown  much  greased  in  Commons, 

A  hat  between  a  man's  and  woman's, 

A  tattered  coat  of  college  blue, 

A  fustian  waistcoat  torn  in  two, 

With  all  my  rust,  through  college  carried, 

I  give  to  classmate  0 ,*  who  's  married. 

*  Jesse  Olds,  a  classmate,  afterwards  a  clergyman  in  a  country  town. 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  231 

Item.     C P s*  has  my  knife, 

During  his  natural  college  life ; 

That  knife,  which  ugliness  inherits, 

And  due  to  his  superior  merits, 

And  when  from  Harvard  he  shall  steer, 

I  order  him  to  leave  it  here, 

That 't  may  from  class  to  class  descend, 

Till  time  and  ugliness  shall  end. 

The  said  C P s,  humor's  son, 

Who  long  shall  stay  when  I  am  gone, 
The  Muses'  most  successful  suitor 
I  constitute  my  executor ; 
And  for  his  trouble  to  requite  him, 
Member  of  Laughing  Club  I  write  him. 

Myself  on  life's  broad  sea  I  throw, 
Sail  with  its  joy,  or  stem  its  wo, 
No  other  friend  to  take  my  part, 
Than  careless  head  and  honest  heart. 
My  purse  is  drained,  my  debts  are  paid, 
My  glass  is  run,  my  will  is  made, 
To  beauteous  Cam.  I  bid  adieu, 
And  with  the  world  begin  anew. 
June  2Qth,  1794. 

While  Biglow  was  writing  these  articles  for  the  Orrery, 
he  was  teaching  a  school,  and  pursuing  studies  prepara 
tory  to  the  profession  of  a  clergyman.  The  following 
poem  formed  a  part  of  No.  III.  and  was  written  as  a 
response  to  a  question,  whether  he  had  chosen  the  pro 
fession  best  adapted  to  his  disposition  and  talents  :  — 

THE    CHEERFUL   PARSON. 
SINCE  bards  are  all  wishing,  pray  why  may  not  I  ? 
Though  but  a  poor  rhymer,  for  once  I  will  try. 
The  life,  that  I  choose,  would  be  pleasant  to  scarce  one, 
Yet  the  life,  that  I  choose,  is  the  life  of  a  parson. 

First  on  me,  kind  heaven,  a  fortune  bestow, 
Too  high  for  contempt  and  for  envy  too  low, 

*  Charles  Premiss,  a  member  of  the  junior  class,  when  this  was  written  ;  after 
wards  editor  of  the  Rural  Repository. 


232  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

On  which  I  with  prudence  may  hope  to  subsist, 
Should  I  be  for  my  damnable  doctrine  dismissed. 

In  a  rich  farming  village,  where  P s  shall  plead, 

And  D r  feel  pulses,  give  physic,  and  bleed, 

Where  A 1  the  youths  and  the  children  shall  teach, 

There  may  I  be  called  and  there  settled  to  preach. 

Not  damning  a  man  for  a  different  opinion, 
I  'd  mix  with  the  Calvinist,  Baptist,  Arminian, 
Treat  each  like  a  man,  like  a  Christian  and  brother, 
Preach  love  to  our  Maker,  ourselves  and  each  other. 

On  a  snug,  little  farm,  I  'd  provide  me  a  seat, 
With  buildings  all  simple,  substantial  and  neat; 
Some  sheep  and  some  cattle  my  pastures  to  graze, 
And  a  middle  prized  pony,  to  draw  my  new  chaise. 

When  I  find  it  no  longer  "  good  being  alone," 
May  a  mild,  rural  nymph  "become  bone  of  my  bone ; " 
Not  fixed,  like  a  puppet,  on  fashion's  stiff  wires, 
But  who  can  be  genteel,  when  occasion  requires. 

Whose  wealth  is  not  money,  whose  beauty  's  not  paint ; 
Not  an  infidel  romp,  nor  a  sour-hearted  saint ; 
Whose  religion  's  not  heat,  and  her  virtue  not  coldness, 
Nor  her  modesty  fear,  nor  her  wit  manly  boldness. 

Thus  settled,  with  care  I  'd  apportion  my  time 
To  my  sermons,  my  garden,  my  wife,  and  my  rhyme, 
To  teach  the  untaught,  and  to  better  the  bad, 
To  laugh  with  the  merry,  and  weep  with  the  sad. 

At  the  feast,  where  religion  might  be  a  spectator, 
Where  friendship  presided,  and  mirth  was  a  waiter, 
I  'd  fear  not  to  join  with  the  good-humored  clan, 
And  prove  that  a  parson  may  still  be  a  man. 

Thus  blest,  may  my  life  be  slid  smoothly  away, 

And  I  still  grow  more  grave,  as  my  hair  grows  more  gray ; 

With  age  may  the  hope  of  the  Christian  increase, 

And  strew  life's  descent  with  the  blossoms  of  peace. 

And  when  we  leave  this  world,  as  leave  it  we  must, 
With  rapture  meet  death,  and  sink  into  the  dust, 
With  a  tear  in  each  eye  may  the  parish  all  say, 
"  They  were  a  kind  pair,  and  did  good  in  their  day." 

CHARLES  CHATTERBOX,  ESQ. 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW. 

The  next  three  numbers  of  "  Omnium  Gatherum  "  pur 
port  to  be  "  Extracts  from  the  Age  of  Freedom ;  being 
an  Investigation  of  good  and  bad  government ;  in  imita 
tion  of  Mr.  Pain's  Age  of  Reason,  and  intended  for  a 
second  part  of  the  same  tune."  These  are  intended  to 
expose  the  sophistry  of  the  Age  of  Reason,  by  adopting 
a  similar  form  of  argument,  in  reference  to  well  known, 
and  well  established  facts,  —  such  as  the  discovery  of 
America,  the  Revolution,  and  the  birth  and  life  of  George 
Washington,  —  all  of  which,  by  this  mode  of  reasoning, 
are  showed  to  be  fables,  and  entitled  to  no  credit.  The 
imitation  is  well  maintained.  The  eighth  number  is  a 
good-humored  touch  at  one  of  the  political  follies  of  the 
day :  — 

ELECTIONEERING. 

CHARLEY,  in  a  hypocondriac  Jit,  complaineth  of  his  condition;  prayeth 
earnestly  to  be  delivered ;  displayeth  a  great  share  of  vanity ;  and  threat- 
eneth  destruction  and  devastation. 

From  school  returned,  with  heart  depressed, 

With  aching  head,  and  anxious  breast, 

With  hand,  grown  weak  by  ferule  holding, 

And  voice  as  trumpet  hoarse  with  scolding, 

Of  A  B  C  and  ciphering  sick, 

And  tired  of  one-pound-ten  per  week, — 

I  loll  me  down  in  easy  chair, 

And  give  my  humble  soul  to  prayer. 

O  Public !  monster  many-headed, 
Courted  by  bards,  by  statesmen  dreaded, 
Who,  with  thy  cords  of  firm  contexture, 
Doth  Varnum  raise  and  pull  down  Dexter,  * 
To  thee,  most  humbly,  I  petition ; 
0  pity  my  forlorn  condition  ! 

*  Joseph  B.  Varnum  and  Samuel  Dexter,  rival  candidates  for  a  seat  in  the 
United  States  House  of  Representatives  from  the  county  of  Middlesex,  Mass. 
Gen.  Varnum  was  elected  for  several  terms  in  succession,  and  was  Speaker  of 
the  House.  Mr.  Dexter  was  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  was  Secretary  of  the  Trea 
sury  during  a  part  of  the  administration  of  the  elder  Adams. 
20* 


234  FEDERAL,     ORRERY. 

To  gain  thy  favor,  long  I  've  hunted  ; 
My  hostess  and  myself  affronted  ; 
With  all  the  meekness  of  a  kitten 
A  history  of  my  life  have  written, 
Which,  like  most  other  histories, 
Contains  some  truths  and  many  lies ; 
My  verse  exposed  to  critic  sneers, 
To  pious  pouts,  and  ribald  leers, 
And,  of  my  wit  and  learning  vain, 
Even  dared  to  laugh  at  Thomas  Pain  ! 

All  this  was  to  increase  thy  joy ; 
Then  grant,  O  grant  some  high  employ, 
In  which  thy  humble  suppliant  may 
Have  little  labor  and  great  pay ; 
Which  will  convince,  when  you  bestow  it, 
That  money  will  enrich  a  poet. 

The  President's  great  chair  I  shun ; 
I  cannot  fight  like  Washington ; 
For  when  our  enemies  combat  us, 
The  careless  boobies  fly  right  at  us, 
Which  frights  this  coward  soul  of  mine  ; 
But  then  in  Congress  I  could  shine. 

I  there  could  take  the  strongest  side,  — 

I  'm  to  no  party  yet  allied,* 

No  demo-  nor  aristo-  crat, 

Nought  but  a  bard,  and  hardly  that : 

Yet  I  can  sit,  and  look  sedate, 

Can  sleep  or  hear  a  long  debate, 

Can  vote  the  wrong  side,  or  the  right  ; 

And  pray  what  more  is  requisite  ? 

But  if  your  bar  'gainst  cabin  windows, 
Your  would-be  captain's  progress  hinders. 
Put  me,  if  you  will  raise  me  fast, 
In  federal  ships  before  the  mast ; 
Instead  of  some  old  wealthy  dough-pate, 
Make  me  a  scribe,  or  judge  of  probate  ; 
Or,  rather  than  be  fretting  here, 
Make  me  a  counselor  one  year. 

O  Public !  on  thy  bard  take  pity 
And  listen  to  his  doleful  ditty ; 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  235 

Let  not  a  flower  of  wit  so  full, 

His  fragrance  waste  in  desert's  school. 

A  dray-horse  drone,  who  ploughed  Ms  way 

Through  craggy  wilds  of  algebra, 

In  Euclid's  ship  knew  every  rope, 

Learned  Pike  by  heart,  Avhile  I  learned' Pope, 

Yet  never  sipped  Parnassian  wine, 

Would  keep  as  good  a  school  as  mine. 

0  Public !  let  me  hear  thee  say, 

"  Charley,  six  dollars  by  the  day ; " 

Or  but  "  five  dollars  and  a  half," 

And  your  petitioner  shall  laugh. 

But,  if  you  keep  me  here  becloistered 

By  power  unknown,  by  wealth  unfostered, 

My  ink  I  '11  spill,  my  paper  burn, 

My  table  to  a  wash-bench  turn, 

My  standish  for  old  pewter  vend, 

My  pen  shall  in  a  tooth-pick  end, 

1  '11  from  my  jews-harp  break  the  tongue, 
And  you  no  more  shall  hear  my  song. 

CHARLES  CHATTERBOX,  Esq. 

Soon  after  this  publication  there  appeared  in  the 
Orrery  a  column  of  poetry  addressed  to  Mr.  Chatterbox, 
giving  an  account  of  "  the  occupations  of  a  Social  Re 
cluse,"  signed  "  Roger  Roundelay."  Judging  from 
the  style  and  versification  one  might  suppose  it  to  have 
been  written  by  Mr.  Biglow  himself.  The  next  paper 
brought  out  a  response  from  Chatterbox,  entitled  "  the 
Occupations  of  the  Schoolmaster ;  inscribed  c  to  well- 
beloved  Roger  Roundelay,  Esq.' ':  After  a  sketch  of 
his  employment  in  the  morning,  from  sunrise  till  nine 
o'clock,  he  proceeds  — 

'Tis  nine;  I  to  the  school-house  go, 
Sauntering  with  pensive  steps  and  slow ; 
Thus  pray  for  blessings  to  attend  us,  — 

#        *        #        *        *        * 
"  Hiatus,  maxime,  deflendus" 


FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

At  length,  "  world  without  end,  Amen," 
Gives  each  one  leave  to  teaze  my  brain  ; 
Then,  Jack,  here,  take  your  copy,  quick  — 
Tom,  here  's  your  pen,  —  sit  down  you,  Dick. 
Sir,  Tim  lias  pricked  me,  —  Tim,  you  lout  — 
Sir,  my  nose  bleeds  —  may  'n  '£  I  go  out?  — 
Sam,  with  his  ruler,  struck  my  ear  ;  — 
Sam,  blockhead,  bring  your  ruler  here. 

First  class,  prepare  yourselves  to  read  — 
Jack,  where 's  your  hat  ?  —  '77s  on  my  head. 
Quick,  take  it  off — read,  the  first  class  ;  — 
After  these  things  it  came  to  pass, 
That  M,  0,  mo,  S,  E,  S,  ses,  Moses  — 
Sir,  John  heaves  paper  at  our  noses. 
Come  here  to  me,  you  booby,'  John  — 
Mind  there  your  writing — well  —  read  on — 
Who  laughs  ?  —  /,  to  see  that  hen  run  — 
Great  A,  little  A,  R,  0,  N,  ron  — 
Aaron  it  spells ;  —  Come  hither,  Abel, 
And  sit  you  down  beneath  my  table. 
Go  —  you  have  read  enough  for  now  — 
The  second  class  —  Tom,  where  's  your  bow  ?  • 

Thus  vexed  and  mad,  till  noon  I  prate  on  ; 
O  what  a  simpleton  was  Satan  ! 
Had  but  poor  Job  met  my  disaster, 
To  be  ordained  a  country  master, 
He  had,  at  least,  obeyed  his  bride 
In  one  respect  —  he  would  have  "  died." 
=*        *        =fc        *        =fc        * 

Now  back  to  school  I  stalk,  and  soon 
Ferule  those  boys  that  fought  at  noon ; 
To  travelers  who  refused  to  bow ; 
Who  apples  stole,  or  stoned  a  cow ; 
Proceed  along  from  class  to  class, 
To  act  again  the  forenoon  farce, 
Till  thousand  dins  my  ears  assail 
While  looks,  and  threats,  and  flattering  fail, 
While,  nigh  to  go,  with  care  arid  toil,  hence, 
With  lifted  broom,  I  sue  for  silence  ; 
Then  not  one  tongue  can  dare  deplore, 
And  not  one  foot  to  scrape  the  floor. 


THOMAS    PAINE.  237 

When  thus,  from  noise  and  riot  free, 
I  drop  this  sad  soliloquy!  — 
When  the  schoolmaster's  year  is  done, 
What  profits  him  beneath  the  sun  ? 
While  lazy  knaves  their  treasures  hoard, 
He  labors  hard  to  pay  his  board : 
Cashless  from  Natick  came  I  hither, 
And  cashless  soon  return  I  thither. 

At  last,  my  tour  of  duty  done, 

I  finish  school  as  I  begun; 

Dismiss  my  scholars  and  ill  nature, 

And  hasten  home,  a  happy  creature  ; 

See  vices  grow,  and  long  to  lather  'em, 

So  fall  in  haste  to  chopping  Gatherum ; 

Gatherum,  not  seasoned  to  allure 

"  The  literary  epicure  ; " 

But,  in  the  opinion  of  its  hasher, 

'Twill  serve  the  temperate  for  a  rasher. 

During  the  first  year  of  the  Orrery,  several  well- 
written  political  communications  appeared  in  its  columns, 
but  altogether  on  the  side  of  the  Federalists.  An  elec 
tion  of  members  of  Congress,  occasioned  a  few  smart 
electioneering  pieces.  On  politics,  Paine,  himself,  wrote 
generally  short  and  desultory  paragraphs,  and  squibs, 
aimed  at  the  Chronicle  and  the  heads  of  its  party. 
Most  of  these,  being  of  a  local  and  temporary  character, 
were  soon  forgotten,  except,  by  the  individuals,  who  suf 
fered  from  the  smart ;  and  few  of  them  would  now  be 
of  any  interest,  without  a  tedious  explanation. 

The  riotous  proceedings,  which  disturbed  the  quiet  of 
Boston,  soon  after  the  publication  of  Jay's  Treaty,  were 
noticed  by  the  editor,  and  reprobated  in  strong  language. 
In  the  Orrery  of  September  14,  there  is  an  article 
addressed  to  Governor  Adams,  personally,  saying,  "  How 
ever  harmless  and  amusing  you  may  view  the  c  water 
melon  frolics, '  —  as  you  have  been  pleased  to  term  them, 


238  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

they  may  be  death  to  your  fellow-citizens  and  constitu 
ents.  Against  your  apparent  connivance,  let  us  not 
again  remonstrate  in  vain.  .  .  .  The  dwellings  of 
our  citizens  have  been  attacked,  and  recourse  for  self- 
preservation,  '  nature's  first  law ! '  has  been  had  to  a 
measure  the  most  dangerous  and  fatal.  If  your  supine- 
ness  is  not  construed  to  an  approbation  of  these  riots,  it 
is  at  least  suspected  to  have  proceeded  from  your  enmity 
to  the  federal  administration." 

The  same  paper  has  the  following  :  — "  The  EDITOR 
OF  THE  ORRERY  feels  the  liveliest  sense  of  gratitude  for 
the  very  great  and  unexpected  influx  of  patronage,  which 
he  has  received  from  the  most  enlightened  and  respecta 
ble  part  of  the  community,  since  the  publication  of  his 
last  paper.  So  cordial  a  public  countenance,  for  a  single 
exertion  in  the  cause  of  federal  republicanism,  he  be 
lieves  has  been  rarely  experienced.  To  his  old  and  new 
patrons  he  returns  the  sincerest  thanks  of  a  devoted 
heart ;  and  assures  them,  that  if  an  inspirited  attention 
to  utility  and  amusement  —  to  the  support  of  govern 
ment  and  ridicule  of  mobocracy  —  will  entitle  him  to 
the  confidence  of  the  real  friends  of  his  country,  or  pro 
mote  the  interest  of  federal  republicanism  —  the  sin  of 
NEGLIGENCE  shall  no  longer  be  laid  at  his  door." 

It  does  not  distinctly  appear  why  there  was  any  "  un 
expected  influx  of  patronage,"  during  the  week  preced 
ing  this  publication  ;  but  it  is  supposed  to  have  been 
caused  by  the  publication  of  "  The  LYARS,  a  political 
eclogue  —  altered  to  the  meridian  of  Boston."  It  was 
an  imaginary  dialogue  between  "  Genet,  Jarvis,  and 
Austin,"  —  an  exceedingly  coarse  attack  upon  Dr.  Jar- 
vis  and  Benjamin  Austin,  jun.  which  occasioned  an 


THOMAS     PAINE.  239 

assault  upon  Paine  by  Samuel  Jarvis,  a  brother  of  the 
Doctor. 

The  twenty-first  of  September,  1795,  was  the  third 
anniversary  of  the  institution  of  the  French  Republic. 
It  was  celebrated  by  a  public  procession,  and  a  dinner 
in  Fanueil  Hall,  got  up  by  the  Jacobin  party.  This 
gave  to  Paine  an  excellent  opportunity  to  lampoon  the 
leaders  of  the  party,  and  to  exercise  his  talent  for  rib 
aldry  ;  —  an  opportunity,  which  he  improved,  by  the 
composition  of  the  following 

SONG  OF  LIBERTY  AND  EQUALITY, 

Which  ought  to  have  been  sung  in  Fanueil  Sail  on  the  2lst  inst.  the  Birth- 
Day  of  the  French  Republic ;  and  ought  to  be  sung  on  the  Birth-Day  of 
all  other  Republics,  whether  male  or  female,  that  may  hereafter  be  born . 

TUNE  —  "  Black  Sloven." 

Ye  sons  of  equality,  freedom,  and  fun, 
Come  rouse  at  the  sound  of  the  gun —  the  gun ; 
Awake  from  your  stupor,  for  feasting  prepare, 
With  Sansculotte  stomachs  let  every  one  meet, 
Like  bears  o'er  a  carcase,  to  fight  and  to  eat  — 
Freely  we  '11  share 

"Whate  'er  stands  before  us, 

While  Freedom's  the  chorus  —  Huzza. 

'Tis  three  years,  this  moment,  since  Freedom,  by  chance, 
Was  safely  delivered  of  France  —  of  France ; 
And  the  brat  is  well  grown,  for  so  tender  an  age; 
Besure  her  complexion  is  hardly  so  good  — 
'Tis  thought  that  her  mother  was  longing  for  blood ; 
For,  when  in  a  rage, 

She  's  rather  uncivil, 

Cuts  throats  like  a  devil  —  Huzza. 

But  this  is  no  matter,  her  votaries  say, 
Who  honestly  pocket  her  PAT  —  her  PAY  ; 
Republics  may  murder,  as  much  as  they  will ; 
In  this  all  the  glory  of  freedom  consists, 
That  each  man  may  do  whatever  he  lists, 


240  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

Fight,  ravish  and  kill, 
Keep  aristocrats  under 
By  bloodshed  and  plunder  —  Huzza. 

Now,  bright  in  the  east,  see  the  morning  appear, 
Its  rays  will  EQUALITY  cheer  —  will  cheer; 
Call  out  gaunt  SEDITION  from  cellar  and  shed  ; 
At  the  sound  of  the  bell  see  the  virtuous  throng, 
Come  squinting,  and  skulking,  and  sneaking  along ; 
Thus  the  thief  from  his  bed, 

When  the  bailiff  approaches, 

Most  manfully  poaches  —  Huzza. 

From  the  statehouse*  in  order  the  Sansculottes  move, 
Like  cattle,  or  swine,  in  a  drove  —  a  drove ; 
Composed  of  all  colors,  and  figures,  and  shapes ; 
Two  and  two,  as  the  patriarch  NOAH  of  old, 
Drove  into  the  Ark,  the  unclean  of  the  fold, 
Skunks,  woodchucks  and  apes, 

Toads,  adders,  and  lizards, 

And  vultures  and  buzzards  —  Huzza. 

Behold  in  the  vanguard,  three  standards  on  high, 
In  majesty  wave  through  the  sky  —  the  sky  : 
A  charming  collection  of  brotherly  souls  — 
In  union,  French,  Dutch  and  American  drawn ! 
Like  the  wolf  and  the  cub  shaking  hands  with  the  FAWN  ; 
Sing  liberty  poles, 

With  tag,  rag,  and  bobtail, 

Proceed  on  by  wholesale  —  Huzza. 

Now  mixed  with  the  rabble,  six  gem'men  are  seen, 
Of  various  sizes,  and  mien  —  and  mien  ; 
Ashamed  of  their  fellows,  they  seem  to  be  shy  — 
There  's  Crafty  and  Crooked,  and  Little  and  Great, 
A  genuine  mixture  of  Sansculotte  state ; 
While  by-standers  cry  — 

"  Behold  our  Selectmen ! 

A  parcel  of  picked  men  "  —  Huzza. 

There  moves  an  old  Baboon^  in  shape  of  a  man, 
The  friend  of  fat  beef,  and  the  Can  —  the  Can! 

*  The  procession  was  formed  on  the  lower  floor  of  the  Old  State  House, 
State-street,  and  marched  through  Merchants-Row  to  Faneuil  Hal!. 
J  William  Cooper,  more  than  fifty  years,  the  Town  Clerk  of  Boston. 


THOMAS    PAINE.  241 

Determined  to  eat,  e'en  if  liberty  bleeds ; 
While  just  in  his  rear,  bent  by  age  like  a  bow, 
A  bedridden  printer*  enriches  the  show — 
Sing  Baboon  and  EDES  ! 

A  promising  couple 

The  jug  to  unstopple,  —  Huzza. 

There  marches,  great  SHUBAEL,  t  thy  Jacobin  whelp, 
Whose  business  is  only  to  yelp  —  to  yelp  ; 
And  paragraphs  write  for  the  Boston  Gazette ; 
While  wriggling  and  scratching,  like  Sawney  M'Bear 
Strut  those  truth-loving  partners,  the  Chronicle  PAIR.  | 
Poor  freedom  will  sweat, 

While  Sammy  's  a  barking 

With  Adams  and  LarJcin,  —  Huzza. 

There  moves  great  Honestus's  §  three  corner'd  hat, 
A  shelter  for  wisdom  and  fat  —  and  fat ; 
In  search  of  the  DOCTOR,  ||  his  guardian  and  guide  : 
Alas,  for  the  doctor  he  searches  in  vain, 
Ashamed  of  the  club,  he  is  tortured  with  pain  — 
Let  blackguards  deride, 
At  HONEE  for  hunting, 
And  DOCTOR  for  grunting —  Huzza. 

Now  striving  amain  for  a  fortunate  chance 

To  taste  of  the  Freedom  of  France  —  of  France  ; 

Stealing  softly  through  alleys,  and  winding  through  lanes 

Our  mob-loving  g r  *fi  marches  in  haste, 

His  eyes  up  to  Heaven  —  his  heart  with  the  feast; 
In  anarchy's  strains, 

*  Benjamin  Edes,  the  printer  and  proprietor  of  the  Boston  Gazette. 

t  Shubael  Hewes,  who  kept  a  shop  in  Washington  (then  Marlboro')  street,  oppo 
site  the  westerly  door  of  the  Old  South  meeting-house.  His  son,  Samuel  Hews, 
to  whom  the  offensive  allusion  is  made  in  the  song,  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
principles  of  the  French  revolutionists,  and  an  active  member  of  the  Jacobin  Club. 
He  was  also  a  writer  for  the  Chronicle. 

$  "The  Chronicle  Pair  "  —  Adams  and  Larkin,  printers  and  editors  of  that  paper. 

§  Benjamin  Austin,  jun.,  a  distinguished  political  writer  in  the  Chronicle,  under 
the  signature  of  Honestus, 

||  Doctor  Charles  Jarvis,  a  celebrated  orator  at  public  meetings.  He  was  one  of 
the  leading  politicians  of  his  day,  and  one  of  the  best  of  extempore  speakers.  Many 
persons  still  living  have  a  vivid  recollection  of  his  power  in  a  popular  assembly. 

IT  Samuel  Adams,  then  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  one  of  the  distinguished 
patriots  of  the  Revolution.  He  had  identified  himself  with  the  anti-federal  party, 

21 


242  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

Psalm-singing,  and  praying, 

He  smiles  at  man-slaying  —  Huzza. 

Lo,  down  in  yon  corner  —  afraid  to  be  seen, 
PEREZ  *  pokes  out  the  end  of  his  chin  —  his  chin ; 
All  ready  to  join  —  when  the  corner  they  turn  ; 
O  Perez,  thy  case  might  a  hero  abash, 
Thou  fearest  thy  neighbors  —  thou  lovest  French  cash  — 
Sansculottes,  with  scorn, 
Behold  thy  dissembling, 
Thy  blustering,  and  trembling  —  Huzza. 

Now  seated  in  order  the  table  around, 
Their  toasts,  and  their  tushes  rebound  —  rebound ; 
Good  eating  and  drinking  make  Sansculottes  roar ; 
For  Poverty  first  bid  them  take  up  their  trade, 
Her  dictates  more  patriots,  than  Freedom's,  have  made. 
Then  freedom  adore, 
Who  saves  you  from  starving, 
And  sets  you  all  laughing  —  Huzza. 

Now  citizen  governor  toasts  a  long  prayer, 
And  Honee  says  all  that  he  dare  —  he  dare ; 
But  citizen  GOOSE  t  durst  not  give  out  his  name, 
While  Mr.  JUTATJ  J  brings  the  sick  doctor  up ; 
And  remembers  the  CHIEF  in  the  Jacobin  cup  — 
Sing,  0  fie,  for  shame ! 

GOOSE,  MALLET,  and  HONEE, 

And  BABOON  the  bony  —  Huzza. 

Farewell,  ye  Sansculottes  —  I  leave  ye  to  dine, 

With  your  hoofs  in  your  dishes,  like  swine  —  like  swine, 

at  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  very  naturally  fell  in  with  the  views 
and  feelings  of  those  who  sympathized  most  closely  with  the  French  revolution 
ists,  He  was  a  member  of  the  Old  South  Church,  and  a  participator  in  the  prayer- 
meetings  of  the  Calvinists. 

*  Perez  Morton,  a  lawyer  of  good  standing.  He  did  not  join  the  procession  at  the 
place  whence  it  started,  but  awaited  its  arrival  at  the  store  of  one  of  his  political 
associates,  near  Faneuil  Hall.  He  represented  the  town  of  Dorchester  in  the  Gen 
eral  Court ;  was  several  times  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  ;  and  held 
the  office  of  Attorney-General  for  a  number  of  years  from  1809. 

t  John  Kuhn,  a  respectable  citizen,  a  tailor  by  profession.  He  was  brother  to 
Jacob  Kuhn,  whom  every  body  recollects  as  the  Sergeant-at-Arms  in  the  Legisla 
ture. 

J  John  Jutau,  a  French  emigrant,  and  an  auctioneer. 


THOMAS    PAINE.  243 

For  once  stuff  your  stomachs,  as  long  as  they  '11  hold ; 
The  Doctor  will  help  you  to  purge  it  away, 
And  PEREZ  and  HONEE  attend  you  for  pay ; 
While  SAMUEL  the  old, 

On  stool  of  repentance, 

Will  whine  out  a  sentence  —  To  HEAVEN. 

Sometime  in  March,  1796,  an  original  comedy,  called 
"  The  Traveler  Returned,"  was  brought  out  at  the  Bos 
ton  theatre,  of  which  Mr.  Paine  said  — "  As  an  Ameri 
can  production,  it  met  with  a  very  favorable  reception. 
The  author,  we  think,  possesses  a  dramatic  talent,  which 
is  capable  of  improvement.  But  experience  is  necessary 
to  theatrical  effect ;  and,  in  producing  it,  art  is  equally 
as  essential  as  genius.  The  tedium  of  uninteresting 
solemnity  constitutes  the  principal  defect  in  the  Traveler 
Returned.  That  it  has  many  good  scenes  cannot  be 
denied.  *  *  *  But  the  author  seems  not  to  be 
aware,  that  novelty  of  incident,  picturesque  situation, 
and  brilliancy  of  dialogue  are  cardinal  requisites  in  gen 
teel  comedy.  We  hope  that  the  public  have  not  con 
demned  him  for  substituting  broad  humor  for  wit,  and 
dullness  for  pathos.  Long  and  frequent  soliloquies  are, 
in  comedy,  highly  unnatural ;  and  on  the  social  inter 
views  of  polished  life,  pedantry  should  never  intrude." 
He  then  gives  a  sketch  of  the  fable  of  the  piece ;  and 
concludes  his  criticism  as  follows :  —  "  Should  the  come 
dy  be  again  represented,  for  the  author's  benefit,  a  pru 
dent  use  of  the  pruning  knife  would  be  of  service  to 
some  of  the  soliloquies  and  many  of  the  national  ebulli 
tions.  Patriotic  sentiments  are  congenial  to  the  best 
feelings  of  an  American  audience  ;  but  the  palate  of  the 
public  is  too  delicate  to  bear  a  surfeit  of  even  the  most 
sumptuous  entertainment." 


244  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

This  criticism  would  hardly  be  deemed  severe,  except 
by  a  very  sensitive  author.  The  next  Orrery  contained 
a  Card,  of  which  the  following  is  all  that  is  necessary,  to 
understand  the  complaint  against  the  criticism  :  — 


The  Author  of  the  "  Traveler  Returned  "  presents  her  compli 
ments  to  Mr.  Paine  ;  she  feelingly  regrets  that  she  has  not  met  with  his 
approbation.  [Some  slight  mistakes  in  the  sketch  of  the  plot  of  the 
comedy  are  then  corrected.]  These  matters  may  be  characterized  as 
mere  bagatelle  —  but  a  gentleman,  so  critical  as  Mr.  Paine,  will  be  at  no 
loss  to  decipher  their  essentiality.  With  what  propriety  the  accusation 
of  "  pedantry,  uninteresting  solemnity,  dullness,  &c.  &c.  are  preferred 
against  the  Traveler  Returned,"  the  public  will  judge  ;  and  if  they  also 
join  to  condemn,  the  author  has  only  to  lament  an  ineffectual  attempt 
to  please. 

To  this,  Mr.  Paine  affixed  the  following  note  :  — 

"Nil  de  mortuis  nisi  bonum"  is  an  ancient  maxim  of  philosophic 
humanity  ;  and  the  Editor  hopes  he  shall  not  flagrantly  offend  against 
the  Latin  idiom,  should  he  translate  it  —  Damn  not  a  play,  which  has 
gone  to  "  that  bourne  whence  no  TRAVELER  RETURNS  !  !  !  " 

The  sting  in  this  brief  note  was  not,  by  any  means 
adapted  to  soothe  the  agonies  of  irritated  authorship. 
The  Centinel,  a  day  or  two  afterwards,  contained  a 
replication,  the  character  of  which  may  be  inferred  from 
Mr.  Paine's  rejoinder,  a  part  of  which  follows  :  — 

Why  should  calamity  be  full  of  words, 

Windy  attorneys  to  their  client's  woes, 

Airy  invaders  of  intestate  joys, 

Poor  breathing  orators  of  miseries  ? 

Let  them  have  scope. 

The  Editor  of  the  Orrery  feels  no  disposition  to  enter  into  a  contro 
versy  with  the  reverend  scribbler  in  Saturday's  Centinel.  He  considers 
it  cruel  in  the  extreme  to  deny  a  disappointed  author  the  liberty  of 
railing  at  an  unfeeling  and  stupid  public,  who  had  neither  the  sense  to 
discern,  nor  the  gratitude  to  reward,  his  unrivaled  genius.  Complaint 
is  the  prerogative  of  misfortune  ;  and  it  certainly  would  be  exacting  too 
strict  a  compliance  with  the  laws  of  bienseance,  to  refuse  a  poor  benighted 


THOMAS    PAINE.  245 

pilgrim,  who  had  "slumped  neck  and  heels  in  a  quagmire,"  the  privilege 
of  saying  he  had  muddied  his  stockings  ! 

Parson  Flummery  is  therefore  .allowed  the  highest  latitude  of  news- 
paporial  abuse;  and  as  he  has  the  most  "profound  sensibility"  for  the 
welfare  of  the  "  Traveler  Returned,"  it  is  presumed  that  no  one  will 
ever  dispute  his  right  to  the  unlimited  patent  of  "  dullness  "  and  buffoon 
ery ! 

The  Editor's  first  critique  was  generally  acknowledged  to  be  too 
lenient  in  its  strictures.  The  public  universally  condemned  the  comedy 
in  toto.  The  editor,  at  the  sacrifice  of  his  taste,  endeavored  to  diminish 
the  odium.  Some  of  its  defects  he  found  indefensible ;  and  had  the 
author  been  of  any  order  of  animals  above  an  incorrigible  blockhead, 
he  never  would  have  provoked  a  public  reprehension.  *  *  *  The 
substitution  of  dullness  for  pathos  is  not  conceded  by  the  advocate  of  the 
play.  The  tame  interest  of  its  serious  scenes  is  attributed  to  the  "  pro 
fundity  "  of  the  editor's  feelings !  The  only  vindicatory  plea,  which 
the  editor  can  make,  is,  that  the  charge,  if  true,  was  equally  incurred 
by  the  whole  auditory : 

Who  every  scene,  with  aching  eye-string  wept ; 
Then  lolled,  and  most  PATHETICALLY  SLEPT  ! 

The  vindicator  of  our  dramatist  next  endeavors  to  obviate  the  charge 
of  pedantry.  *  *  *  The  accusation  of  pedantry  was  founded  on 
the  general  complexion  of  the  author's  style.  From  her  dialogue  she 
has  carefully  excluded  every  species  of  colloquial  ease;  and,  from 
beginning  to  end  of  her  comedy  we  continually  meet  with  turgid  phrases, 
stale  Hibernianisms,  filched  ribaldry,  and  forced  conceits,  without 
one  single  solitary  SPARK  of  wit,  to  cheer,  with  a  momentary  TWIN 
KLE,  the  immense  vacuum  of  Dullness. 

The  next  thrust  in  this  memorable  controversy,  and 
the  last  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Paine,  was  the  following, 
which  appeared  in  the  Orrery  of  March  24 :  — 

To  THE  REVEREND  JOHN  MURRAY. 
SIR, 

The  lenity,  which  marked  the  first  critique  of  the  editor  of  the 
Orrery  on  YOUR  comedy,  "  The  Traveler  Returned,"  evidently  militated 
with  the  public  judgement,  and  his  own  impartiality.  His  ingenuous 
comments  and  candid  strictures  would  have  been  thankfully  received  by 
any  man  of  more  understanding,  or  less  VANITY,  than  yourself.  But 
the  commerce  of  disgusting  adulation,  which  you  have  been  long  accus 
tomed  to  hold  with  mankind,  has  banished  from  your  intellect  the 
21* 


246  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

small  degree  of  purity,  it  naturally  possessed.  Perhaps,  too,  your 
ridiculous  affectation  might  have  led  you  to  anticipate,  that  the  various 
classes  of  citizens,  whom  you  have  indiscriminately  DOGGED  and  BUF 
FOONED  with  your  "SMOOTH  CONFECTIONARY  STYLE," 
would  gorge  the  glutton  maw  of  your  ambition,  by  returning  the  same 
fulsome  praise. 

Under  the  shock  of  so  severe  a  disappointment,  you  resorted  to  other 
means  to  gratify  your  ungovernable  appetite  of  dramatic  fame.  The 
editor  of  the  Orrery  had  not,  agreeably  to  your  preposterous  wishes, 
extended  your  eulogium  to  the  utmost  limits  of  panegyric,  "  ON  THIS 
SIDE  OF  ADOEATION."  His  judgement  must,  therefore,  be  com 
bated  ;  and,  if  in  your  power,  demolished.  The  "  Card,"  which  appeared 
in  his  paper  of  Thursday  last,  was  delivered  by  yourself.  You  request 
ed  its  publication  in  your  own  person.  He  had  a  right,  therefore,  to 
believe  you  the  author  of  it.  When  the  editor  gave  it  a  place  in  his 
paper,  from  a  motive  of  humanity,  he  declined  the  severity  of  retort. 
He  believed  that  your  comedy  was  DECEASED,  and  that  it  had  died 
of  a  NATURAL  DEATH.  But  as  it  had  not  given  up  the  ghost  in 
the  CHRISTIAN  FAITH,  there  was  no  hopes  of  its  glorious  RES 
URRECTION.  He  therefore  felt  no  pleasure  in  being  a  PALL 
BEARER  at  its  interment,  nor  in  dancing  over  the  grave  of  the  poor 
unfortunate!  With  respect  to  the  benefit  night,  which  you  expected 
from  it,  he  wished  you  all  imaginable  success.  But,  as  the  "  TRAV 
ELER  RETURNED,"  while  he  lived,  was  not  one  of  the  favorites  of 
fortune,  a  "POST  OBIT,"  he  thought,  might  not  be  of  the  greatest 
possible  value. 

It  has  been  repeatedly  said,  Sir,  in  the  Mercury  and  Centinel,  that 
you  were  not  the  author  of  the  paragraphs,  addressed  to  the  editor  of 
the  Orrery,  in  those  papers.  I  neither  know  that  you  dictated  or  trans 
cribed  them.  But  where  is  the  public  difference  between  the  HEAL  and 
the  OSTENSIBLE  author  ?  If  it  can  be  proved  that  you  carried  those 
articles  to  the  press ;  —  if  it  never  has  been  said  that  you  lodged  the 
name  of  any  other  person  with  the  printer ;  —  and  if  it  is  well  known 
that  you  acknowledged  and  read  the  last  Saturday's  publication  in  the 
Centinel-Office  before  strangers  and  apprentices,  with  all  that  antic 
grimace,  for  which,  it  is  reported,  you  were  so  famous,  as  a  strolling 
player  in  Ireland ;  —  if  all  these  contingencies  can  be  substantiated,  is 
it  not  indubitable,  that  you  have  not  only  "  SEEN  DOUBLE,"  but 

have  SPOKEN  so;  and  that  " When  we  have  said 

as  false, 

"  As  air,  as  water,  or  as  sandy  earth ; 
"  As  fox  to  lamb,  as  wolf  to  heifer's  calf ; 


THOMAS    PAINE.  247 

"  Pard  to  the  hind,  or  step-dame  to  her  son  ; 

"  Then  might  we  say,  to  stick  the  heart  of  falsehood, 

"AS  FALSE  AS"— MURRAY! 

Paine's  connection  with  the  Orrery  terminated  on. the 
18th  of  April,  1796,  when  he  addressed  the  following 

To  THE  PUBLIC.  The  subscriber,  having  sold  the  Proprietary 
right  of  the  Federal  Orrery  to  Mr.  Benjamin  Sweetser,  takes  this 
opportunity  of  returning  his  sincerest  thanks  to  his  friends  and  the 
Public,  for  the  liberality,  which  they  have  been  ever  pleased  to  extend 
him ;  and  hopes,  in  retiring  from  the  publication  of  a  paper,  whose  ex 
istence  has  immediately  emanated  from  their  benignity,  that  he  may 
safely  bequeathe  to  his  successor  a  continuance  and  extension  of  their 
patronage  and  favor. 

The  public's  most  obedient  servant, 

THOMAS  PAINE. 

The  sale  of  the  Orrery  was  fatal  to  its  existence. 
Scarcely  an  original  paragraph  can  be  found  in  its  col 
umns  after  it  passed  from  the  possession  of  Paine.  It 
was  made  up,  in  a  great  measure,  of  extracts  from  the 
Farmer's  Museum  and  other  popular  gazettes.  Sweet 
ser,  its  new  proprietor,  in  company  with  William  Bur- 
dick,  had  published  a  paper  in  Boston,  called  the  Cou 
rier,  the  office  of  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  just  before 
his  purchase  of  the  Orrery.  In  November  following,  he 
changed  the  title  of  his  publication  to  "  The  Courier  and 
General  Advertiser,"  by  which  change  the  Orrery 
became  extinct  in  name,  as  it  was  before  in  essence. 

Thomas  Paine  was  born  at  Taunton  in  the  county  of 
Bristol,  Ms.  December  9,  1773.  He  was  the  second  son 
of  Robert  Treat  Paine,  "  an  eminent  lawyer ;  well  known 
as  one  of  the  patriots  of  the  American  Revolution  ;  one 
of  the  delegates  in  Congress  from  Massachusetts,  his 
native  state,  who  signed  the  Declaration  of  Independ 
ence  ;  for  many  years  the  attorney -general,  and  after 
wards  one  of  the  judges  of  the  supreme  judicial  court  of 


248  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

the  commonwealth."  When  Thomas  was  about  seven 
years  old,  the  family  removed  to  Boston.  He  was  pre 
pared  for  college  at  the  Public  Latin  School ;  entered 
the  University  at  Cambridge  in  1788  ;  and  graduated 
in  1792.  Soon  after  leaving  college,  he  entered  the 
counting-house  of  a  merchant  in  Boston,  intending  to 
pursue  a  mercantile  profession.  This  purpose  was  soon 
abandoned  ;  and  he  commenced  the  publication  of  the 
Orrery,  with  a  degree  of  encouragement  from  the 
merchants  and  professional  gentlemen  in  Boston  and 
the  vicinity,  which  had  not  then,  nor  has  it  since,  had 
any  parallel  in  the  history  of  Boston  newspapers.  After 
disposing  of  the  Orrery  Mr.  Paine  studied  law  in  the 
office  of  Theophilus  Parsons,  who  was  afterwards  chief 
justice  of  the  supreme  court.  In  due  time  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  opened  an  office  in  Boston,  and 
obtained  a  reasonable  share  of  business.  His  passion 
for  dramatic  literature  interfered  with  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  his  clients  were  neglected,  and  his  business 
diminished,  till  about  the  year  1809,  when  he  gave  up 
his  office  and  removed  his  name  from  the  door.  He 
died  on  the  13th  of  November,  1811. 

In  181*2,  Mr.  Paine's  works,  in  prose  and  verse,  were 
published  by  J.  Belcher,  Boston,  in  an  octavo  volume  of 
near  five  hundred  pages.  To  the  volume  is  prefixed 
"  Sketches  of  his  Life,  Character,  and  Writings."  These 
sketches  are  brief,  but  beautifully  written.  The  criticisms 
might  have  been  extended,  with  pleasure  and  profit  to 
the  reader,  and  with  justice  to  the  character  of  Mr.  Paine 
as  a  scholar,  a  poet,  and  a  writer  of  prose.  For  some 
unaccountable  reason,  some  of  his  productions,  worthy  of 
the  most  conspicuous  place  in  the  collection  of  American 


THOMAS    PAINE.  249 

poetry,  have  been  treated  with  undeserved  neglect. 
His  Poems,  entitled  "  The  Invention  of  Letters  "  and 
"  The  Ruling  Passion  "  are  far  superior  to  many  poems, 
that,  of  late  years,  have  courted  the  public  favor  in  silk 
binding  and  gilt  edges,  and  been  illustrated  with  costly 
engravings.  Some  of  his  lyrical  compositions  enjoyed 
great  popularity.  "  Adams  and  Liberty  "  was  in  favor 
with  the  public  for  many  years,  and  was  sung  at  almost 
every  festive  occasion,  where  politics  could  find  admis 
sion.  The  Ode,  written  for  the  festival  of  the  Faustus 
Association,  was  deservedly  popular  with  the  printers, 
and  ought  to  be  adopted  by  all  typographical  societies 
as  peculiarly  their  household  song. 

As  a  theatrical  critic,  Mr.  Paine's  opinions  were  re 
ceived  as  judicial  decisions,  that  were  not  to  be  disputed. 
After  he  disposed  of  the  Orrery,  he  wrote  criticisms  on 
plays  and  players  for  several  other  papers,  but  his  arti 
cles  of  this  description,  after  Russell  &,  Cutler's  Bos 
ton  Gazette  was  established  as  a  literary  and  miscella 
neous  journal,  were  generally  published  in  that  paper. 
Some  of  these  articles  were  republished  in  the  volume  of 
his  works  before  referred  to. 

Mr.  Paine  married  the  daughter  of  an  actor  by  the 
name  of  Baker,  —  a  young  lady  of  fine  accomplish 
ments,  amiable  manners,  and  unblemished  reputation. 
But  such  was  the  prejudice  then  existing  against  plays, 
theatres,  and  actors,  that  this  marriage  caused  an  alien 
ation  of  parental  affection,  and,  for  many  years,  it  is 
believed,  he  was  excluded  from  the  paternal  roof, — 
although  the  lady  never  appeared  on  the  stage  after  her 
marriage,  but  always  sustained  the  character  of  a  wife 
and  mother  with  dignified  propriety. 


250  FEDERAL    ORRERY. 

About  the  time  that  President  Jefferson  invited  the 
noted  Thomas  Pain,  the  author  of  the  Age  of  Reason, 
to  revisit  this  country,  our  Thomas  Paine  petitioned  the 
Legislature  of  Massachusetts  for  a  change  of  name, 
assigning  as  a  reason,  that  he  was  desirous  of  being 
known  by  a  Christian  name.  His  petition  was  granted. 
He  took  the  name  of  his  father,  Robert  Treat,  and  was 
ever,  afterward,  known  by  the  name  of  Robert  Treat 
Paine,  jun. 


THE   BOSTON   GAZETTE. 


ON  Monday,  September  5,  1795,  J.  Sc  J.  N.  RUS 
SELL  commenced  the  publication  of  "  The  Boston 
Price  Current  and  Marine  Intelligencer,  Commercial 
and  Mercantile."  It  was  a  small  quarto  of  four  pages, 
published  at  the  price  of  three  dollars  a  year.  Its  con 
tents  strictly  corresponded  with  its  title.  It  was  pub 
lished  in  this  form  till  March  7,  1796,  when  it  was 
enlarged  to  a  crown  folio.  At  the  end  of  June  follow 
ing,  the  partnership  was  dissolved.  The  publication 
was  continued  by  JOHN  RUSSELL  ;  the  paper  was  is 
sued  twice  a  week,  on  Monday  and  Thursday  ;  and  the 
price  was  raised  to  four  dollars  a  year.  Without  any 
material  variation  in  the  character  of  its  contents,  except 
occasionally  an  official  document  concerning  trade  or 
navigation,  and,  now  and  then  a  paragraph  sufficient  to 
identify  the  editor's  politics  with  those  of  the  leading 
Federalists,  it  was  continued  in  this  form  and  size,  till 
June  7,  1798.  It  was  then  enlarged  to  the  size  of  the 
Centinel,  Chronicle,  and  Mercury,  and  took  the  name  of 
"  Russell's  Gazette ;  Commercial  and  Political." 

In  his  address  to  the  public,  on  introducing  this  change, 
Russell  said,  —  "The  portentous  aspect  of  our  political 
horizon,  connected  with  the  important  events,  which  are 
daily  passing  on  the  great  theatre  of  the  European  world, 


252  BOSTON    GAZETTE. 

designate  the  present  period  as  one,  which  loudly  calls 
for  the  virtuous  energies  of  all  good  citizens ;  and  ought 
to  inspire,  in  the  breast  of  every  man,  a  solicitude  to 
contribute  his  efforts  in  support  of  the  cause  of  virtue, 
freedom,  and  independence.  Under  this  persuasion,  and 
influenced  by  the  advice  of  many  valuable  friends,  the 
editor,  in  the  humble  hope  of  being  able  to  extend  the 
sphere  of  its  utility,  has  deviated  so  far  from  the  plan 
which  he  adopted  in  originating  the  Commercial  Gazette, 
as  to  enlarge  its  dimensions,  thereby  to  afford  an  oppor 
tunity  of  rendering  it  an  important  and  useful  vehicle  of 
political  information,  as  it  is  admitted  to  be  of  commer 
cial  and  maritime  intelligence.  He  confesses  to  have 
been  stimulated  to  this  alteration  by  the  ambition  he 
feels  to  take  a  share  (he  hopes  it  may  be  a  conspicuous 
one)  in  the  dissemination  of  those  important  political 
truths  and  opinions,  which  the  fertile  genius  and  talents 
of  our  countrymen,  urged  by  the  critical  state  of  the 
times,  daily  produce  in  such  rich  exuberance.  To  the 
friends  and  supporters  of  the  constitution,  and  those  who 
administer  it,  he  declares  his  paper  exclusively  devoted. 
To  the  enemies  of  either  he  avows  himself  an  enemy. 
These  are  his  sentiments;  and,  on  these  terms  does  he 
solicit  the  patronage  of  the  public  ;  for,  on  no  other, 
does  he  think  himself  deserving  it,  or  could  he  expect  it 
to  be  permanent." 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1800,  in  consequence 
of  ill  health,  Russell  resigned  the  printing  and  publish 
ing  department  into  the  hands  of  JAMES  CUTLER,  a  young 
man,  who  had  been  in  the  office  from  the  commence 
ment  of  the  paper.  The  next  October,  Russell  and 
Cutler  formed  a  partnership,  published  the  paper  and 


RUSSELL    AND    CUTLER. 

* 

carried  on  job  work  on  an  extensive  scale  as  joint  and 
equal  partners.  The  paper  was  thenceforth  called  sim 
ply  the  BOSTON  GAZETTE. 

From  the  day  when  the  Gazette  was  enlarged  and 
assumed  the  character  of  a  political  paper,  it  adhered, 
with  religious  firmness,  to  the  federal  party.  It  de 
fended  in  the  most  able  manner,  the  administration  of 
John  Adams  against  the  attacks  of  the  Chronicle,  and 
all  the  republican  papers  of  New- York  and  Philadel 
phia.  Russell  was,  himself,  a  good  writer  of  para- 
graphs,  and  he  had  the  aid  of  able  and  educated  cor 
respondents.  For  fifteen  years  no  paper  in  the  country 
was  more  prompt  and  decided,  as  a  watchman  on  the 
bulwarks  of  Federalism.  It  presented  itself,  twice  a 
week,  charged  to  the  muzzle,  with  argument,  invective, 
and  ridicule,  against  the  French  Directory,  Napoleon, 
Jefferson,  Madison,  the  Chronicle,  the  Aurora,  and  all 
the  host  of  Jacobins,  Democrats,  Republicans,  or  by 
whatever  name  the  adversaries  of  Federalism  chose  to 
be  called.  Occasionally  Russell  allowed  his  opposition 
to  French  politics  to  betray  him  to  the  use  of  exceed 
ingly  offensive  language.  This  was  resented  by  citizen 
Mozard,  then  the  French  consul  in  Boston,  and  conse 
quently,  the  whole  artillery  of  vituperation  was  poured 
upon  him  through  the  columns  of  the  Gazette.  The 
contest  was  so  warm  that  the  selectmen  and  the  school- 
committee  of  Boston  were  harshly  censured  by  Russell 
for  inviting  Mozard  to  attend  the  examination  of  the 
public  schools.  Mozard  defended  himself  and  his  native 
country,  — or  was  defended  by  some  other  person,  — in 
the  Chronicle.  Russell  expected  a  personal  assault, 
and  gave  notice  in  his  paper,  that,  if  the  consul  should 

VOL.   ir.  22 


254  BOSTON    GAZETTE. 

• 

appear  at  his  office,  he  should  be  saluted  with  a  shower 
from  the  professional  tub*  But  I  believe  no  rencontre 
ever  took  place. 

Russell  was  much  attached  to  theatrical  performances, 
as  means  of  innocent  and  elegant  entertainment;  and 
the  Gazette  was,  for  many  years,  a  kind  of  official  link 
of  connection  between  managers  and  the  public.  The 
play-bills  were  printed  at  the  office  of  the  Gazette,  and 
it  generally  furnished  its  readers  with  a  programme  of 
forth-coming  exhibitions.  It  not  only  supplied  the  pub 
lic  with  the  "  puff  preliminary,"  but  was  the  organ  of 
the  critics,  who  were  paid  for  their  criticism  by  free 
admission,  as  well  as  for  those,  who  had  no  such  tempta 
tion  to  influence  their  judgement.  Thomas  (afterwards 
Robert  Treat)  Paine  wrote,  for  the  Gazette,  many  of 
his  most  elaborate  dramatic  criticisms  and  reviews  ;  and 
several  other  of  the  play-going  writers  made  it  the  re 
ceptacle  of  their  critical  decisions.  Russell  himself  was 
a  man  of  taste  in  such  matters,  and  could  write  a  rebuke 
or  a  compliment  as  occasion  might  require ;  but  he  was 
too  good-natured  to  be  severe,  and  never  allowed  a  re 
mark  to  escape  from  his  pen,  that  could  excite  the  anger 
of  the  boisterous,  or  grieve  the  sensibility  of  the  timid. 
Whenever  his  correspondents  were  harsh  in  their  lan 
guage  towards  performers,  —  especially  those  of  an 
inferior  rank,  —  Russell  was  ready  with  his  sympathy  to 
soothe  their  feelings  by  some  kind  word,  as  an  offset  to 
the  severity  of  his  correspondents. 

Russell  was  a  great  admirer  of  the  British  essayists, 


*  Every  Printer  of  the  old  school,  knows  that  this  was  once  an  indispensable 
article  in  a  printing-office.  Modern  improvements  have  rendered  it  unnecessary, 
and,  of  course,  it  is  out  of  use. 


RUSSELL     AND     GARDNER.  255 

novelists,  and  poets.  For  many  years  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  placing  at  the  head  of  each  column  of  adver 
tisements,  on  the  last  page  of  the  Gazette,  a  short 
extract  from  some  of  those  writers,  embracing  a  senti 
ment,  an  anecdote,  or  some  pithy  remark.  How  large  a 
part  of  these  were  of  his  own  selection  is  not  known. 
His  friend,  Mr.  Samuel  Gilbert,  assisted  him  in  the 
selection  of  those  articles,  which  added  much  interest 
to  the  paper,  and  attracted  the  attention  of  a  considera 
ble  number  of  readers. 

The  Embargo  and  the  War  of  1812  were  topics  of 
constant  remark  in  the  Gazette.  During  the  war,  sev 
eral  young  men  engaged  in  writing  for  it,  and  some  of 
the  political  articles  are  written  with  great  power  and 
elegance.  The  Gazette  had  a  large  circulation  in  Maine, 
and  was  eminently  influential  in  sustaining  the  federal 
party  in  that  district,  then  a  part  of  the  state  of  Massa 
chusetts.  The  interest  its  conductors  took  in  politics 
did  not,  however,  diminish  its  value  as  a  vehicle  of  com 
mercial  and  marine  intelligence.  This  department  was 
under  the  superintendence  of  Cutler,  and  was  managed 
with  proverbial  talent  and  industry.  About  the  close  of 
the  war,  or  soon  after,  SIMON  GARDNER,  a  young  man  of 
extraordinary  activity,  was  taken  into  the  business  as  a 
partner,  and  the  whole  was  conducted  in  the  name  of 
Russell,  Cutler  &  Co.  Cutler  died,  after  a  short  illness, 
on  the  eighteenth  of  April,  1818.  The  firm  being  thus 
dissolved,  the  business  was  continued  by  Russell  &/ 
Gardner,  till  the  end  of  the  year  1823,  when  Mr.  Rus 
sell  withdrew  from  it,  and  took  leave  of  the  public,  as  an 
editor,  in  the  following  valedictory  address  :  — 


256  BOSTON    GAZETTE. 

More  than  forty  years  have  passed  away,  since  the  undersigned  com 
menced  the  duties  and  labors  of  editor  and  publisher  of  a  periodical 
paper.  It  has  been  an  eventful  period  of  the  world.  As  a  nation  we 
have  gained  our  Independence,  and  established  those  great  political 
institutions,  which,  we  trust,  will  support  our  freedom,  and  give  it  per 
petuity.  Our  government  was  an  experiment  in  political  history,  on 
which  admiring  nations  gazed,  and  for  whose  result,  the  lovers  of  lib 
erty,  and  advocates  of  the  rights  of  man,  hoped  and  trembled.  The 
timid,  the  ambitious,  and  the  wicked,  were  against  the  trial ;  and  when 
they  saw  it  waking,  broke  out  in  the  voice  of  prophecy,  on  the  left ;  but 
it  did'  not  dishearten  us ;  and  full  success  has  attended  the  endeavor. 
Persevering  honesty  has  been  amply  rewarded.  The  glory  may  be 
given  to  a  few,  but,  in  truth,  the  effort  was  made  by  many. 

Scarcely  had  we  breathed  from  our  own  revolutionary  struggles, 
before  we  were  again  excited  by  the  convulsions  of  France :  —  This 
people,  suddenly  broke  from  the  thraldom  of  unlimited  power,  and 
delirious  with  the  thoughts  of  liberty,  waged  war  against  morals  and 
man.  This  to  us  was  indeed  a  trying  time ;  they  had  taken  the  spark 
from  off  our  altar,  but  the  flame  became  unhallowed  in  their  hands ; 
they  offered  it  in  impurity  to  the  genius  of  liberty,  and  the  incense  was 
rejected  as  strange  fire.  Those  who  have  come  up  since,  and  have 
taken  a  part  on  the  stage,  can  partially  realize  what  we  feared,  and 
suffered.  We  felt  many  evils  and  forboded  more.  Party  rancor 
sprang  up  among  us,  and  separated  kindred  and  friends.  The  house 
hold  gods  were  profaned  by  angry  discussions ;  around  the  family  fire 
side,  where  nothing,  even  in  the  darkest  day  of  our  revolutionary  con 
tests,  had  before  been  heard  but  the  accents  of  domestic  harmony,  or 
prayers  to  avert  evils,  or  praise  for  blessings  and  protection,  discord 
made  her  entry,  with  her  usual  train  of  miseries  —  fathers  were  arrayed 
against  sons,  and  sons  against  fathers.  These  calamities,  if  not  de 
stroyed,  were  at  least  softened,  by  the  persevering  efforts  of  those  pa 
triots,  who  labored  from  love  of  country,  and  the  good  of  mankind. 
At  this  portentous  period,  our  columns,  were  fearlessly  opened  to,  and 
filled  with  the  productions  of  great  spirits,  engaged  in  a  great  cause ; 
many  of  whom  are  remembered  with  tears  of  joy.  They  strengthened 
our  hands,  and  encouraged  our  hearts.  Many  of  them  are  still  living, 
and  do  not  wish  to  hear  of  their  victories ;  but  it  will  not  be  deemed 
invidious  to  mention  one  who  has  gone  to  reap  the  rewards  of  the 
patriot-martyr :  — FISHER  AMES,  will  ever  be  remembered,  by  the  lovers 
of  their  country,  of  all  times,  and  all  political  creeds.  His  soul  was 
full  of  the  cause  of  his  country,  and  he  manfully  poured  out  the  light 


RUSSELL     AND     GARDNER.  257 

of  his  mind,  to  dissipate  the  mists  of  political  fanaticism,  and  to  purify 
the  world  from  that  dreariness  of  thought  and  feeling,  which  grew 
from  infidel  philosophy.  The  cool  and  wary,  we  know  have  often  said 
that  his  zeal  was  too  ardent,  and  his  fears  unfounded ;  this  may  have 
been  true,  in  some  degree  ;  but  his  sincerity  was  never  doubted,  and  it 
is  delightful  now  to  recollect,  that  we  were  often  guided  by  a  mind  so 
noble,  in  a  cause  so  glorious. 

When  we  look  back  and  contemplate  the  events  which  have  trans 
pired  in  our  short  period  of  activity  and  bustle  ;  short,  we  mean,  when 
the  growth  of  a  nation  is  considered,  it  seems  as  it  were  a  dream  —  a 
people  increased  from  four  millions  to  ten  millions,  and  those,  contrary 
to  what  has  generally  been  the  fate  of  nations,  grown  wiser  and  better 
as  their  number  advanced.  Thirteen  chartered  colonies,  but  little 
known  to  each  other,  have  been  supplanted  by  twenty-four  independent 
republics,  bound  in  an  indissoluble  union,  possessing  the  power,  en 
ergy,  and  celerity  of  action,  of  one  great  people,  —  and  the  knowledge, 
necessary  to  wield  this  great  political  machine,  become  familiar  to  all 
her  citizens.  We  have  not  reached  the  ordinary  length  of  a  single 
reign  of  an  European  monarch,  yet  the  gristle  has  become  bone,  the 
youthful  muscle  gained  strength  and  hardihood,  and  the  whole  colossal 
body  adorned  with  manly  grace  and  comeliness  —  and  politics  and  phi 
losophy  have  been  brought  down  to  the  common  business  of  life. 

Modesty  allows  him,  who  putteth  off  the  armor,  to  speak  of  him 
self —  yea,  even  to  boast;  but  we  wish  not  to  boast,  nor  even  to  say 
much  of  ourselves,  or  the  establishment  in  which  we  have  long  been 
senior;  but  the  most  fastidious  and  unfriendly,  will  permit  us  to  say, 
and  believe  the  assertion,  that  our  end  and  intentions  have  been  honest, 
and  the  means  used,  to  bring  them  about,  candid  and  fair  —  that  we 
have  never  sacrificed  our  independence  by  time-serving,  nor  jeopardized 
our  integrity  by  avarice.  To  name  the  events  which  have  succeeded 
each  other,  or  to  mention  the  institutions,  which  have  grownup,  and  nour 
ished  in  our  day,  were  to  fill  a  volume.  We  wish  not  to  do  it ;  but  they 
have  been  to  us  like  so  many  mile-stones  on  the  high-way  of  life  — 
they  shorten,  or  seem  to  shorten,  the  road  we  travel,  and  assist  us,  in 
calling  to  mind,  what  we  have  suffered,  and  what  we  have  enjoyed. 

It  is  hard  for  a  politician,  and  especially  an  editor  of  a  newspaper,  to 
have  pursued  a  long  course,  without  offending  some,  and  wounding  oth 
ers  ;  but  he  only  should  be  condemned,  who  continues  in  error,  when  he 
knows  what  is  right,  and  persists  in  telling  falsehoods,  when  he  has  dis 
covered  the  truth. 

We  leave  our  duties  as  an  editor,  in  peace  with  every  one,  feeling  a 
conscious  pride  that  we  have  never  made  the  Gazette  a  vehicle  of  mal- 
22* 


258  BOSTON     GAZETTE. 

ice,  or  a  chronicle  of  pitiful  slanders.  In  truth,  we  ask  no  praise,  but 
this,  which  no  one,  we  think,  will  deny  us,  our  enmities  were  easily 
appeased,  and  our  friendship  seldom  forgotten. 

In  taking  leave  of  the  public,  as  the  founder  and  conductor  of  the 
Boston  Gazette,  whose  arduous,  laborious,  and  responsible  duties,  are 
found  to  be  incompatible  with  that  degree  of  rest,  and  ease,  which  age, 
and  long-tried  services,  require,  he  begs  leave  to  express  the  warm 
gratitude,  which  still  glows  in  his  heart,  for  the  repeated  instances  of 
kindness,  friendship,  and  assistance,  he  has  received  from  the  hands 
of  his  political  and  personal  friends.  He  would  say  more  on  this  sub 
ject,  but  the  paper,  on  which  he  writes,  is  too  moist  to  receive  the  im 
pression  of  his  pen. 


In  surrendering  the  Gazette  to  my  junior  partner,  the  public  may 
confidently  expect  that  his  wonted  zeal  and  activity,  will  be  fully  exer 
cised,  in  rendering  it  a  continued  vehicle  of  the  earliest  intelligence, 
both  commercial  and  political,  and  that,  in  every  instance,  where  its 
.services  are  required,  to  aid  a  good  cause,  no  selfish  considerations  will 
tlebar  him  from  the  prosecution  of  a  public  duty. 

In  taking  farewell  of  the  public,  I  cannot  but  express  my  acknowl 
edgements  to  JAMES  L.  HOMER,  a  young  gentleman,  who  has  been  long 
engaged  in  this  establishment,  and  for  several  years,  last  past,  the  assid 
uous  collector  of  the  marine  department ;  and  in  every  instance,  where 
my  editorial  labors,  from  sickness,  depression  of  spirits,  or  unusual  accu 
mulation  of  labor,  required  it,  has  proved  himself  not  only  capable  of, 
but  most  generously  lent  his  aid  in,  performing  those  duties,  expected 
by  a  reading  and  intelligent  public.  JOHN  RUSSELL. 

Boston,  Dec.  29,  1823. 

Soon  after  this,  Mr.  Russell  removed  to  the  state  of 
Maine,  and  resided  there  with  his  relatives  till  his  death, 
the  precise  time  of  which  I  am  not  able  to  record. 

Mr.  Gardner  had  been  connected  with  this  establish 
ment  from  early  boyhood,  and  had  served  in  the  capacity 
of  errand-boy,  carrier,  apprentice,  and  clerk.  Being 
now  the  sole  proprietor  of  the  Gazette,  he  engaged,  as 
editor,  SAMUEL  L.  KNAPP,  a  member  of  the  Suffolk  Bar, 
a  gentleman  of  acknowledged  literary  taste,  and  a  fine 


SIMON    GARDNER.  259 

writer.  By  the  union  of  the  talents  of  Mr.  Gardner  as 
supervisor  general  of  the  whole  concern,  —  of  Mr. 
Knapp  as  the  literary  director,  —  of  Mr.  Homer  as  news 
collector,  and  Mr.  William  Beals  as  accountant  and 
treasurer,  it  was  expected  that  the  Gazette  would  have 
a  long  day  of  prosperity,  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  reason 
able  hopes  of  its  proprietor.  But  an  unlooked-for  event 
was  at  hand,  and  the  brilliant  prospect  was  overshadowed 
with  a  misfortune,  fatal  to  at  least  one  of  the  partners. 
Mr.  Gardner  died  on  the  nineteenth  of  April  following. 
The  following  obituary  notice,  written  by  Mr.  Knapp, 
contains  no  exaggerated  representation  of  his  charac 
ter  :  — 

Died  on  Thursday  last,  Mr.  SIMON  GARDNER,  publisher  and  proprie 
tor  of  the  Commercial  Gazette,  in  the  thirty-fourth  year  of  his  age, 
sincerely  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him  ;  for  he  had  properties  of  mind 
and  heart,  worthy  the  fondest  recollection.  He  was  a  dutiful  son,  a 
kind  husband,  a  warm-hearted,  generous  friend.  From  childhood  he 
was  distinguished  for  industry,  enterprise  and  integrity  —  he  feared  no 
labor,  nor  spared  any  pains  in  the  discharge  of  his  professional  duties. 
He  had  an  extraordinary  tact  for  business ;  but  even  in  his  zeal  to  do 
much,  he  never  assumed  to  know  and  to  do  what  he  did  not  understand, 
but  looked  at  what  he  was  engaged  in,  with  a  good  share  of  that  com 
mon  sense,  which  leads  to  correct  conclusions  and  successful  results. 
He  was  desirous  of  accumulating  wealth,  and  dwelt  upon  his  plans  with 
enthusiasm ;  but  in  every  dream  of  opulency,  he  united  some  delightful 
scheme  of  benevolence  and  friendship.  When  perplexed,  as  he  some 
times  was,  by  stepping  forward  to  serve  an  acquaintance,  who  after 
wards  failed  to  make  good  his  promises,  he  felt  grieved,  and  was  chafed 
for  a  moment,  but  instantly  set  about  framing  apologies  for  his  creditor, 
and  would  not  believe  that  want  of  gratitude  or  honesty  was  the  cause 
of  disappointment.  The  death  of  such  a  man  is  a  public  loss  —  there 
is  much  taken  from  the  stock  of  industrious  exertion  when  he  dies. 
Mr.  GARDNER  had  just  purchased  out  the  share  of  his  former  partner, 
and  had  the  control  of  a  large  printing  establishment,  and  was  conduct 
ing  it  successfully,  when  he  was  called  to  leave  it,  and  finish  his  earthly 
labors.  He  was  happily  united  to  an  excellent  woman,  whose  prudence 


260  BOSTON    GAZETTE. 

and  good  sense,  assisted  him  in  carrying  into  effect  every  judicious 
arrangement.  The  ways  of  Providence  are  mysterious,  for  often  the 
useless  are  continued,  while  the  active,  industrious  and  generous,  who 
bring  their  talents  to  produce  many  fold  for  the  good  of  the  community 
are  taken  suddenly  away.  But  it  is  wise,  brave  and  pious,  to  meet 
these  afflicting  events  with  resignation,  knowing  that  infinite  wisdom 
directs  all  things  for  the  best. 

The  business  was  conducted  by  Messrs.  Knapp, 
Beals,  and  Homer,  for  and  on  account  of  the  widow  of 
Mr.  Gardner,  till  July,  1826.  The  two  gentlemen  last 
named,  then  purchased  the  whole  establishment.  Mr. 
Knapp  resigned  the  chair  editorial  to  ALDEN  BRADFORD, 
Esq.  and  bade  farewell  to  the  customers  and  friends  of 
the  Gazette,  as  follows  :  — 

TO  THE  PUBLIC. 

My  labors  as  editor  of  this  paper  ceased  on  the  transfer  of  the  pro 
perty  in  it  from  Mrs.  Gardner  to  Messrs.  Beals  and  Homer.  I  com 
menced  my  duties  in  assisting  in  conducting  the  Boston  Commercial 
Gazette,  January,  1 824,  pursuant  to  an  engagement  made  with  the  late 
Mr.  Simon  Gardner,  the  proprietor  and  publisher  of  it.  His  lamented 
decease  happened  in  a  few  weeks  afterwards,  and  his  widow  became 
sole  owner  of  the  establishment;  and  being  advised  by  her  friends  to 
continue  it,  temporary  arrangements  were  made  for  that  purpose.  The 
same  agents  her  husband  had  employed  were  continued  by  her  to  the 
present  time. 

It  will  hardly  be  necessary  to  add,  that  a  property  so  situated,  required 
the  utmost  care  and  circumspection  to  increase  its  value,  or,  in  fact,  to 
prevent  a  deterioration  of  it.  This  statement  is  made  to  excuse  the 
agent,  if,  at  any  time,  the  patrons  of  the  paper  thought  there  was  a 
want  of  decision  and  independence  in  the  course  pursued.  To  him  who, 
in  any  measure,  assists  in  influencing  public  opinion,  many  things  of  a 
doubtful  result  will  present  themselves,  from  which,  supported  by  pure 
motives,  and  a  true  moral  courage,  he  will  not  flinch  when  his  own 
reputation  or  interests  only  are  concerned,  but  which  he  ought,  and 
must  evade,  when  the  happiness  and  security  of  another,  having  no 
participation  in  the  responsibility,  may  be  involved.  I  make  these  re 
marks  not  from  a  wish  to  be  excused  from  sins  of  commission  —  these  I 
have  ever  been  ready  to  answer  for  —  but  in  apology  for  sins  of  omission, 
in  often  shunning,  in  the  best  manner  I  could,  subjects  which  an  editor, 


BEALS    AND    HOMER.  261 

differently  placed,  should  have  met  and  discussed  in  an  open  and  fear 
less  manner.  If  a  licentious  press  is  a  curse,  a  timid  time-serving  one 
is  a  greater.  The  duties  of  an  editor  are  full  of  responsibility,  both 
political  and  moral.  Nothing  should  escape  his  attention,  from  the 
movements  of  associated  nations  to  the  petty  neglects  of  a  town  corpo 
ration.  He  should  take  upon  himself  to  watch  the  manners  and  morals 
of  the  community,  and  comment  fearlessly,  in  the  spirit  of  justice.  If 
in  the  political  world,  he,  like  the  prophet,  deems  it  his  duty,  at  the 
altar  of  freedom,  to  call  down  the  fire  of  heaven  upon  the  sons  of  Belial 
to  consume  them,  it  is  equally  his  duty  to  return  to  scenes  of  humble 
life,  and  to  bless,  as  far  as  he  is  able,  the  cruise  of  oil  to  preserve  the 
orphan  from  bondage.  It  is  much  easier,  I  know,  to  tell  what  should 
be  done  than  to  do  a  tenth  part  of  it ;  but  one  is  certainly  allowed  to 
offer  a  reason  for  not  attempting  to  do  what  might  seem  to  have  been 
his  duty,  and  the  public  are  the  judges  of  its  sufficiency.  The  present 
editor  will  be  relieved  from  all  such  embarrassments  by  a  union  of  inter 
ests  and  duties  with  the  proprietors,  with  the  intervention  of  other  indi 
vidual  interests.  The  industry  and  business  talents  of  the  proprietors 
are  well  known  to  the  public,  and  these  are  at  all  times  the  best  earnests 
of  success,  for  which  success  they  have  my  most  hearty  wishes.  I  re 
linquish  my  duties,  in  conducting  the  journal,  to  my  successor  with 
great  cheerfulness  ;  and  could  any  observation  from  me  extend  his 
influence,  it  should  not  be  withheld  —  but  it  might  savor  of  vanity  to 
suppose,  for  a  moment,  that  one  so  well  known  by  his  long  public  ser 
vices  and  numerous  literary  productions  as  Mr.  Bradford,  could  possi 
bly  be  aided  by  any  remark  of  one  so  much  his  junior. 

SAMUEL  L.  KNAPP. 

This  was  followed  by  a  short  advertisement  from 
Messrs.  Beals  &  Homer,  giving  notice  that  they  had 
become  the  proprietors  of  the  establishment,  and  assur 
ances  of  their  entire  devotion  to  the  service  of  the  pub 
lic,  and  their  intention  to  preserve  the  well-established 
character  of  the  Gazette.  To  this  succeeded  the  saluta 
tory  of  Mr.  Bradford,  giving  an  exposition  of  the  prin 
ciples,  which  would  guide  him  in  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  he  had  undertaken  ;  and  it  runs  thus  :  — 

In  addition  to  the  remarks  of  the  proprietors  and  publishers  of  the 
Gazette,  the  editor  has  only  to  observe,  that  its  political  character  will 


BOSTON    GAZETTE. 

remain  unchanged.  This,  since  its  establishment,  or  revival  in  1798, 
has  been  FEDERAL  REPUBLICAN.  And  by  this  we  mean  distinctly, 
that  it  has  been  the  advocate  of  the  policy  of  the  first  administration  of 
the  national  government  under  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  and  his  associ 
ates.  If  it  has  ever  been  a  party  paper,  it  will  be  so  no  longer.  We 
do  not  admit  it  ever  was  such,  only  in  so  far  as  it  supported  the  meas 
ures  of  WASHINGTON  and  of  his  political  friends.  If  it  has  pursued  a 
straight-forward  course,  and  that  originally  a  correct  one,  the  error,  if 
there  be  any,  is  with  those  who  have  changed.  But  we  are  not  tenacious 
of  names ;  principles  only  are  important.  And  these,  however  partic 
ular  measures  may  vary  with  the  varying  condition  of  the  nation  or  of 
the  world,  never  change.  The  great  doctrines  by  adhering  to  which, 
our  glorious  revolution  was  effected,  our  state  constitution  was  formed 
and  adopted,  a  rebellion  suppressed  in  the  heart  of  the  Commonwealth, 
the  Federal  Compact  established,  and  the  national  government  adminis 
tered  by  WASHINGTON,  (and  generally  by  his  successors)  —  these  doc 
trines  must  still  guide  and  direct  us  as  a  people,  in  order  to  insure  our 
welfare  and  prosperity.  The  first  and  the  most  essential  of  these  truths 
are,  that  the  people  are  the  source  of  all  political  power ;  and  that  civil 
government  is  formed  and  supported  for  their  sole  benefit.  That  rul 
ers  are  their  agents  or  servants,  and  not  their  masters ;  and  that  the 
provisions  of  the  Constitution,  adopted  by  the  people,  are  to  guide  and 
control  their  representatives  in  all  their  public  conduct. 

In  these  principles,  we  all  agree,  at  least  theoretically.  And  while  it 
is  alike  the  duty  and  interest  of  the  people  to  support  their  agents  in 
the  exercise  of  all  legitimate  authority,  it  is  the  dictate  of  wisdom  and 
prudence  to  examine  their  conduct,  lest  abuses  creep  in  and  usurpations 
take  place,  and  precedents  are  established  unfavorable  to  the  rights  and 
liberties  of  the  citizens.  That  there  is  danger  of  such  evils  and  abuses, 
the  history  of  all  other  times  and  people  abundantly  proves.  We  have 
no  security  against  them,  but  in  the  intelligence,  the  virtue,  and  the 
wakeful,  independent  inquiry  of  the  great  body  of  the  people  themselves. 
A  predetermined  opposition  to  any  administration  is  dishonorable  and  unjust ; 
and  can  only  bring  disgrace  on  those  who  are  engaged  in  it.  A.  blind,  time 
serving  submission  to  men  in  office  is  equally  dishonorable,  and  tends  to 
strengthen  the  power  of  the  government  to  the  injury  of  the  governed.  In 
seasons  of  election  of  rulers,  the  most  perfect  freedom  of  inquiry,  of 
discussion  and  of  opinion,  is  justifiable,  if  truth  and  candor  be  observed. 
The  voice  of  the  majority  and  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  are 
to  be  respected  and  obeyed.  But  the  conduct  and  policy  of  rulers  are 
still  the  proper  subjects  of  attention  and  examination.  Nor  is  the  cry 
of  "  opposition  "  to  fetter  the  spirit  of  inquiry  or  stifle  the  voice  of  ceu- 


BEALS    AND    HOMER.  263 

sure,  either  of  the  past  or  the  present,  if  there  are  reasons  for  disappro 
bation.  With  the  truly  patriotic,  however,  this  will  always  be  done 
with  decency  and  in  good  temper ;  not  by  personal  reproaches  or  mis 
representations.  If  those  who  are  in  power  are  to  be  supposed  corrupt, 
and  those  who  are  out  of  power  to  be  selfish,  in  all  cases,  there  will  be  no 
end  to  criminations ;  and,  instead  of  uniting  for  the  welfare  and  im 
provement  of  our  common  country,  we  shall  but  degrade  and  dis 
honor  it. 

Our  motto  will  be,  "principles  rather  than  men."  Constitutional 
maxims  should  be  followed  by  all  classes  of  citizens ;  and  though  party 
distinctions  may  not  be  wholly  done  away,  they  may  be  less  strongly 
marked  than  in  former  times  and  greater  union  of  sentiment  prevail. 
In  a  free  government,  there  will  be  some  diversity  of  opinion  respecting 
men  and  measures.  But  if  a  spirit  of  patriotism  be  paramount  to  all 
other  considerations,  we  need  riot  despair  of  the  common  weal.  Rulers 
must  be  judged  by  their  opinions  and  their  measures ;  and  when  the 
people  become  dissatisfied  with  them,  they  must  retire  to  private  life, 
and  those  who  are  more  patriotic  or  more  popular  will  take  their  places. 

We  are  aware  that  the  present  is  an  age  of  inquiry  and'  improvement 
in  philosophy,  in  science  and  in  the  mechanic  arts.  We  shall  endeavor 
to  collect  all  the  useful  intelligence  furnished  by  foreign  papers,  as  well 
as  those  published  in  this  country,  and  present  it  to  our  readers  in  the 
most  concise  manner.  But  we  mean  not  to  be  too  liberal  in  our  prom 
ises.  We  will  only  give  assurances  of  attention  and  industry.  The 
character  arid  worth  of  our  paper  will  be  best  learnt  from  the  matter 
contained  in  its  columns  from  time  to  time.  And  when  we  can  find  a 
space  not  necessarily  devoted  to  political  intelligence  and  the  passing 
news  of  the  day,  we  shall  gladly  occupy  it  with  an  article  on  morals, 
theology  or  literature. 

The  present  editor  feels  his  responsibilities  increased  in  the  labors  he 
has  undertaken,  by  the  consideration  of  succeeding  a  gentleman  of  tal 
ents  and  general  information,  who  was  able  to  furnish  matter  for  the 
columns  of  the  Gazette,  at  once  interesting  and  amusing.  If  he  can 
not  expect  to  equal  the  former  editor  in  a  flowing  style  and  in  sporting 
classical  allusions,  he  will  endeavor  to  imitate  him  in  the  candor  and 
magnanimity  of  his  sentiments. 

Beals  &  Homer  continued  the  publication  of  the  Ga 
zette  a  few  years,  when  a  new  arrangement  of  proprie 
tors  took  place.  Mr.  Beals  sold  out  his  interest  to 
Joseph  Palmer,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  Charles 


264  BOSTON    GAZETTE. 

G.  Greene,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Morning  Post ; 
—  a  partnership,  that  still  exists,  —  profitable,  no  doubt, 
to  all  parties  concerned ;  for  Mr.  Greene  is  one  of  the 
best  of  editors,  and  Mr.  Beals  is  the  best  financier,  that 
has  ever  been  connected  with  a  newspaper. 

Homer  &;  Palmer,  after  carrying  on  the  Gazette  for  a 
year  or  two,  disposed  of  it  to  Adams  &  Hudson,  who 
were  already  proprietors  of  the  Palladium  and  the  Cen- 
tinel.  In  process  of  time,  —  not  a  long  one,  —  the 
whole  united  stock  was  purchased  by  Nathan  Hale,  and 
thus  four  semi-weekly  papers,*  which  had,  for  an  average 
of  more  than  forty  years,  been  important,  popular,  and 
well-established  organs  of  intelligence,  —  political,  com 
mercial,  social,  and  literary,  —  were  merged  in  the  Bos 
ton  Daily  Advertiser,  and  became  extinct. 

Soon  after  the  enlargement  of  the  Gazette  in  1798, 
it  assumed  quite  a  literary  character.  John  Russell 
attracted  around  him  a  number  of  young  men,  who 
were  ready  with  their  pens  to  assist  him  with  comments 
on  politics,  literature,  the  drama,  &c.  Of  these,  R.  T. 
Paine,  jun.  after  he  relinquished  the  Federal  Orrery, 
was  one  of  the  most  constant.  John  Lathrop,  jun.  a 
son  of  the  venerable  pastor  of  the  second  church  in 
Boston,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  ;  —  Thomas 
O.  Selfridge,  another  graduate  of  the  same  institution,  a 
man  of  talent,  a  lawyer  with  increasing  patronage,  and 
who  gave  early  promise  of  eminence  in  his  profession, 
but  who  was,  afterwards,  unhappily  involved  in  troubles 
arising  from  an  incident  that  clouded  the  brightness  of 
his  early  career  and  infused  bitterness  into  the  ingredi- 

*  The  Independent  Chronicle  had  been  previously  sold  to  Mr.  Hale,  after  its  union 
with  the  Boston  Patriot.     See  vol.  i.  p.  266. 


ALDEN  BRADFORD.  265 

ents  of  his  anticipated  cup  of  satisfaction  ;  —  David 
Everett,  well-known  for  a  number  of  years  after,  as  a 
political  writer,  and  first  editor  of  the  Boston  Patriot ;  — 
these,  and  some  others  not  so  well  known,  were  constant 
contributors,  and  did  much  to  render  the  Gazette  an 
agreeable  miscellany  of  literature  as  well  as  political 
discussion. 

SAMUEL  L.  KNAPP,  who  had  charge  of  the  Gazette 
while  it  was  owned  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gardner,  was  a 
native  of  Sanbornton,  N.  H.  and  a  graduate  of  Dart 
mouth  college.  He  practised  law  some  time  in  New- 
buryportj  and  represented  that  town  in  the  Legislature 
of  the  commonwealth,  in  1814.  After  the  war  he  re 
moved  to  Boston,  and  continued  to  practise  in  his  pro 
fession.  He  assisted,  for  about  a  year,  in  the  editorial 
department  of  the  New-England  Galaxy.  He  was  a 
fluent  and  popular  writer,  and  published  several  books, 
among  which  were  Biographical  Sketches  of  eminent 
Lawyers,  and  a  Life  of  Daniel  Webster.  When  he  left 
the  Boston  Gazette  he  lived  a  w7hile  in  New- York, 
and  removed  thence  to  Washington,  where  he  continued 
his  professional  pursuits,  and  wrote  letters  for  various 
newspapers.  Declining  health  induced  him  to  return  to 
New-England.  But  the  hand  of  death  had  laid  hold  of 
him,  and  soon  placed  him  among  the  unnumbered  mil 
lions  of  the  departed. 

ALDEN  BRADFORD,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Knapp,  was 
more  devoted  to  politics  than  literature.  He  was  a 
native  of  the  "  Old  Colony,"  and  graduated  at  Harvard 
college  in  1786,  in  the  class  with  the  late  Judge  Parker 
and  Mr.  Timothy  Bigelow.  Mr.  Bradford  was  educated 
for  the  office  of  a  clergyman,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of 
23 


266  BOSTON    GAZETTE. 

a  church  in  Maine.  I  have  not  been  informed  of  his 
reasons  for  leaving  the  profession  ;  but,  after  quitting  it, 
he  was  in  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  courts  in  one  of  the 
counties  in  that  part  of  the  state.  About  the  year  1809, 
he  removed  to  Boston,  and  was  connected  with  a  pub 
lishing  and  bookselling  house,  till  he  was  chosen  secre 
tary  of  state,  an  office  which  he  filled  for  several  years, 
while  there  was  a  majority  of  Federalists  in  the  Legis 
lature.  Under  his  control  the  Gazette  was  a  respecta 
ble  and  dignified  advocate  of  the  political  doctrines 
which  had  been  the  creed  of  the  federal  party,  before 
"  the  Era  of  Good  Feelings,"  —  or,  in  other  words 
before  the  union  of  parties  to  elect  Mr.  Munroe  to  the 
Presidency.  Mr.  Bradford  received,  by  the  appoint 
ment  of  the  Governor,  the  office  of  notary  public,  and 
held  it  till  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1843.  He  had 
published  several  valuable  works,  of  which  the  Life  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Mayhew,  a  History  of  Massachusetts,  and  a 
History  of  the  Federal  Administration  are  the  principal. 
He  also  collected,  and  published  in  an  octavo  volume 
with  notes,  the  essays  of  Novanglus  and  Massachuset- 
tensis,  (John  Adams  and  Jonathan  Sewall)  originally 
published  in  Edes  &;  Gill's  Boston  Gazette,  —  for  which 
his  name  is  entitled  to  grateful  recollection. 

JOHN  and  JOSEPH  N.  RUSSELL  were  printers,  by  pro 
fession.  I  believe  that  neither  ever  served  any  regular 
apprenticeship,  but  were  employed  by  Benjamin  Rus 
sell,  —  who  was  their  brother,  —  in  the  office  of  the 
Centinel,  some  years  previous  to  the  commencement  of 
the  Boston  Price-Current  and  Marine  Intelligencer,  from 
which  originated  the  fourth  newspaper  in  Boston,  with  the 
title  of  the  Boston  Gazette. 


THE  RURAL  REPOSITORY. 


IN  the  autumn  of  1795,  CHARLES  PRENTISS  com 
menced  the  publication  of  the  RURAL  REPOSITORY,  at 
Leominster,  Mass.  The  first  number  was  issued  on 
Thursday,  October  22,  and  was  published  weekly, 
on  crown  paper,  at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a  year. 
In  his  prospectus  Mr.  Prentiss  says, —  "It  has  long 
been  a  general  and  just  complaint  that  too  large  a 
proportion  of  most  of  our  papers  has  been  devoted  to 
uninteresting  intelligence  and  political  altercations  — 
or  advertisements,  useful  perhaps  to  the  man  of  busi 
ness,  but  no  dainty  to  the  literary  epicure.  In  the 
proposed  paper,  from  the  locality  of  its  publication, 
advertisements  will  be,  in  a  considerable  degree,  avoid 
ed.  Most  of  its  pages  will  be  filled  with  original 
essays,  moral  and  humorous,  biographical  anecdotes, 
criticisms,  &c.  together  with  selected  pieces,  calculated 
to  improve  and  embellish  the  mind.  The  multiplicity 
of  periodical  papers,  and  the  editor's  own  '  mediocritas 
ingenii  '  considered,  nothing  would  have  induced  him  to 
the  trial,  but  a  safe  dependence  on  a  number  of  literary 
friends,  and  his  conviction  that  most  would  be  willing  to 
patronize  and  encourage  so  laudable  an  attempt.  But 
if  his  utmost  exertions  are  unable  to  preserve  it  from  the 
Syrtcs  of  DULLNESS  and  the  rocks  of  DISAPPROBATION, 


£68  RURAL    REPOSITORY. 

he  requires  nothing  more  than  what  they  will  readily 
grant,  namely,  a  discontinuance  of  their  favors." 

This  is  rather  cool  and  philosophical.  Whether  Mr. 
Prentiss's  philosophy  reconciled  him  to  the  early  death 
of  his  Repository,  or  not,  is  not  known  to  the  writer ; 
but  the  paper  was  short-lived.  One  cannot  avoid  smil 
ing  at  the  simplicity  of  a  youth,  fresh  from  college,  with 
no  experience  of  the  many  nameless  expenses,  that,  in 
a  printing-office,  swallow  up  an  income,  promising  him 
self  success  in  the  publication  of  a  merely  literary  paper 
in  a  small  country  village,  and  seemingly  resolved  to 
exclude  advertisements,  —  the  best  and  surest  source  of 
profit,  —  even  if  they  should  be  offered.  But  Mr.  Pren- 
tiss  stands  not  alone  in  the  catalogue  of  those,  who  have 
indulged  in  this  pleasing  but  fatal  illusion. 

In  one  of  the  earliest  numbers  of  the  Repository,  Mr. 
Prentiss,  following  the  example  of  his  friend  Biglow, 
published  his  will.  Paine  immediately  transferred  it  to 
the  Orrery,  with  an  introductory  note,  saying  —  "  Hav 
ing,  in  the  second  number  of  '  Omnium  Gatherum '  pre 
sented  to  our  readers  the  last  will  and  testament  of 
Charles  Chatterbox,  Esq.  of  witty  memory,  wherein 
the  said  Charles,  now  deceased,  did  lawfully  bequeath 

to  Ch s  Pr s,  the  celebrated  l  Ugly  Knife,3  to 

be  by  him  transmitted,  at  his  college  demise,  to  the  next 
succeeding  candidate ;  *  *  *  *  and  whereas  the  said 

Ch s  Pr s,  on  the  21st  of  June  last,  departed 

his  aforesaid  college  life,  thereby  leaving  to  the  inherit 
ance  of  his  successor  the  valuable  legacy,  which  his 
illustrious  friend  had  bequeathed,  as  an  entailed  estate, 
to  the  poets  of  the  university  — we  have  thought  proper 
to  insert  a  full,  true,  and  attested  copy  of  the  will  of  the 


CHARLES    PRENTISS.  269 

last  deceased  heir,  in  order  that  the  world  may  be  fur 
nished  with  a  correct  genealogy  of  this  renowned  Jack- 
knife,  whose  pedigree  will  become  as  illustrious  in  after 
time  as  the  family  of  the  l  ROLLES,'  and  which  will  be 
celebrated  by  future  wits  as  the  most  formidable  weapon 
of  modern  genius." 

For  reasons,  which  will  probably  be  obvious  to  the 
reader,  a  few  lines  are  omitted  in  the  following  copy 
of  the  article. 

A  WILL: 

Being   the  last  words  of  Ch s  Pr s,  late  worthy  and  much 

lamented  member  of  the  Laughing    Club  of  Harvard  University,  who 
departed  College  life  on  the  21  st  of  June,  1795. 

I,  Pr s  Ch s,  of  judgement  sound, 

In  soul,  in  limb  and  wind,  now  found ; 
I,  since  my  head  is  full  of  wit, 
And  must  be  emptied,  or  must  split, 
In  name  of  president  APOLLO, 
And  other  gentle  folks,  that  follow: 
Such  as  URANIA  and  CLIO, 
To  whom  my  fame  poetic  I  owe  ; 
With  the  whole  drove  of  rhyming  sisters, 
For  whom  my  heart  with  rapture  blisters  5 
Who  swim  in  HELICON  uncertain 
Whether  a  petticoat  or  shirt  on, 
From  vulgar  ken  their  charms  to  cover, 
From  every  eye  but  Muses'  lover; 
In  name  of  every  ugly  GOD  ; 
Whose  beauty  scarce  outshines  a  toad ; 
In  name  of  PROSERPINE  and  PLUTO, 
Who  board  in  hell's  sublimest  grotto ; 
In  name  of  CERBERUS  and  FURIES, 
Those  damned  aristocrats  and  tories  ; 
In  presence  of  two  witnesses, 
Who  are  as  homely  as  you  please, 
Who  are  in  truth,  I'd  not  belie  'em, 
Ten  tunes  as  ugly,  faith,  as  I  am  ; 
But  being  as  most  people  tell  us, 
23* 


270  RURAL    REPOSITORY. 

A  pair  of  jolly,  clever  fellows, 
And  classmates  likewise,  at  this  time, 
They  shan  't  be  honored  in  my  rhyme. 
I  —  I  say  I,  now  make  this  will ; 
Let  those,  whom  I  assign,  fulfil. 
I  give,  grant,  render  and  convey, 
My  goods  and  chattels  thus  away  ; 
That  honor  of  a  college  life, 
That  celebrated  UGLY  KNIFE, 
Which  predecessor  SAWNEY*  orders, 
Descending  to  time's  utmost  borders, 
To  noblest-bard  of  homeliest  phiz, 
To  have  and  hold  and  use,  as  his ; 

I  now  present  C s  P y  S r,  f 

To  keep  with  his  poetic  lumber, 

To  scrape  his  quid,  and  make  a  split, 

To  point  his  pen  for  sharpening  wit ; 

And  order  that  he  ne'er  abuse 

Said  ugly  knife,  in  dirtier  use, 

And  let  said  CHARLES,  that  best  of  writers. 

In  prose  satiric,  skilled  to  bite  us, 

And  equally  in  verse  delight  us, 

Take  special  care  to  keep  it  clean 

From  unpoetic  hands  —  I  ween. 

And  when  those  walls,  the  muses'  seat, 

Said  S r  is  obliged  to  quit, 

Let  some  one  of  APOLLO  's  firing, 
To  such  heroic  joys  aspiring, 
Who  long  has  borne  a  poet's  name, 
With  said  knife  cut  his  way  to  fame. 

I  give  to  those,  that  fish  for  parts, 
Long  sleepless  nights,  and  aching  hearts, 
A  little  soul,  a  fawning  spirit, 
With  half  a  grain  of  plodding  merit, 
Which  is,  as  heaven  I  hope  will  say, 
Giving  what 's  not  my  own  away. 


*  William  Biglow,  known  in  college  by  the  name  of  Sawney  — and  by  which 
he  was  frequently  addressed  by  his  familiar  friends  in  after  life. 

t  Charles  Pinckney  Sumner,  — afterwards  a  lawyer  in   Boston,  and  for  many 
years  sheriff  of  the  county  of  Suffolk. 


CHARLES     PRENTISS.  271 

Those  oven  baked  or  goose  egg  folded 
Who,  tho'  so  often  I  have  told  it, 
With  all  my  documents  to  show  it, 
Will  scarce  believe  that  I  'm  a  poet, 
I  give  of  criticism  the  lens 
With  half  an  ounce  of  common  sense. 

And  'twould  a  breach  be  of  humanity, 

Not  to  bequeath  D n  *  my  vanity ; 

For  'tis  a  rule  direct  from  Heaven, 
To  him  that  hath  more  shall  be  given. 

Item.    Tom.  M n,  t  COLLEGE  LION, 

Who  'd  ne'er  spend  cash  enough  to  buy  one, 

The  BOANERGES  of  a  pun, 

A  man  of  science  and  of  fun, 

That  quite  uncommon  witty  elf, 

Who  darts  his  bolts  and  shoots  himself, 

Who  oft  had  bled  beneath  my  jokes, 

I  give  my  old  tobacco  box. 

My  Centinels  for  some  years  past, 
So  neatly  bound  with  thread  and  paste, 
Exposing  Jacobinic  tricks, 
I  give  my  chum  for  politics. 

My  neckcloth,  dirty,  old,  yet  strong, 
That  round  my  neck  has  lasted  long, 
I  give  BIG  BOY,  for  deed  of  pith, 
Namely,  to  hang  himself  therewith. 

And  ere  it  quite  has  gone  to  rot, 

I.  B give  my  blue  great  coat, 

With  all  its  rags,  and  dirt  and  tallow, 
Because  he  's  such  a  dirty  fellow. 

Now  for  my  books ;  first  Bunyarfs  Pilgrim, 
(As  he  with  thankful  pleasure  will  grin) 
Tho'  dogleaved,  torn,  in  bad  type  set  in, 
'Twill  do  quite  well  for  classmate  B 

*  Theodore  Dehon,  afterward  a  clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  Bishop 
of  the  diocese  of  South-Carolina. 

t  Thomas  Mason,  a  member  of  the  class  after  Premiss,  —  said  to  be  the  greatest 
wrestler  that  was  ever  in  College.  He  was  settled  as  a  clergyman,  at  Northfield, 
Mass. ;  resigned  his  office  some  years  after,  and  several  times  represented  that 
town  in  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts. 


272  RURAL    REPOSITORY. 

And  thus,  with  complaisance  to  treat  her, 
'Twill  answer  for  another  Detur. 

To  him  that  occupies  my  study, 

I  give  for  use  of  making  toddy, 

A  bottle  full  of  white  face  STINGO 

Another,  handy,  called  a  mingo. 

My  wit,  as  I  Ve  enough  to  spare, 

And  many  much  in  want  there  are, 

I  ne  'er  intend  to  keep  at  home, 

But  give  to  those  that  handiest  come, 

Having  due  caution,  where  and  when, 

Never  to  spatter  gentlemen. 

The  world's  loud  call  I  can't  refuse, 

The  fine  productions  of  my  muse ; 

If  impudence  to  fame  shall  waft  her, 

I  '11  give  the  public  all,  hereafter. 

My  love  songs,  sorrowful  complaining, 

(The  recollection  puts  me  pain  in.) 

The  last  sad  groans  of  deep  despair, 

That  once  could  all  my  entrails  tear ; 

My  farewell  sermon  to  the  ladies ; 

My  satire  on  a  woman's  head  dress ; 

My  epigram  so  full  of  glee, 

Pointed  as  epigrams  should  be ; 

My  sonnets  soft,  and  sweet  as  'lasses, 

My  GEOGRAPHY  of  MOUNT  PARNASSUS; 

With  all  the  bards  that  round  it  gather, 

And  variations  of  the  weather ; 

Containing  more  true  humorous  satire, 

Than 's  oft  the  lot  of  human  nature ; 

(  "  Oh  dear  what  can  the  matter  be," 

I  've  given  away  my  vanity ; 

The  vessel  can't  so  much  contain, 

It  runs  o'er  and  comes  back  again.) 

My  blank  verse,  poems  so  majestic, 

My  rhymes  heroic,  tales,  agrestic  : 

The  whole,  I  say,  I'll  overhaul  'em, 

Collect  and  publish  in  a  volume. 

My  heart,  which,  thousand  ladies  crave, 
That  I  intend  my  wife  shall  have. 
I  'd  give  my  foibles  to  the  wind, 


CHARLES    PRENTISS.  273 

And  leave  my  vices  all  behind; 
But  much  I  fear  they  '11  to  me  stick, 
Where'er  I  go  thro'  thin  and  thick. 
On  WISDOM'S  horse,  oh,  might  I  ride, 
Whose  steps  let  PRUDENCE'  bridle  guide. 
Thy  loudest  voice,  O  REASON,  lend, 
And  thou  PHILOSOPHY  befriend. 
May  candor  all  my  actions  guide, 
And  o'er  my  every  thought  preside, 
And  in  thy  ear  0  FORTUNE,  one  word, 
Let  thy  swelled  canvas  bear  me  onward, 
Thy  favors  let  me  ever  see 
And  I  '11  be  much  obliged  to  thee ; 
And  come  with  blooming  visage  meek, 
Come,  HEALTH  and  ever  flush  my  cheek ; 
O,  bid  me  in  the  morning  rise, 
When  tinges  Sol  the  eastern  skies  ; 
At  breakfast,  supper-time,  or  dinner, 
.    Let  me  against  thee  be  no  sinner. 

And  when  the  glass  of  life  is  run 

And  I  behold  my  setting  sun, 

May  conscience  sound  be  my  protection, 

And  no  ungrateful  recollection, 

No  gnawing  cares  nor  tumbling  woes 

Disturb  the  quiet  of  life's  close. 

And  when  Death's  gentle  feet  shall  come 

To  bear  me  to  my  endless  home, 

Oh !  may  my  soul,  should  heaven  but  save  it, 

Safely  return  to  GOD  who  gave  it. 

CHARLES  PRENTISS  was  born  in  Reading,  in  the 
county  of  Middlesex,  Mass.,  in  October,  1774.  He 
was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Caleb  Prentiss,  the  minister  of 
that  parish  in  Reading,  which  has  since  been  incor 
porated  as  a  separate  town  by  the  name  of  South-Read 
ing.  A' He  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1795,  com 
menced  the  publication  of  the  Rural  Repository,  in 
October  (as  before  stated)  and  married  in  November  of 
the  same  year.  The  publication  of  the  Repository  was 


274  RURAL    REPOSITORY. 

continued  but  a  short  time  —  I  think  not  more  than 
two  years.  Afterward,  in  company  with  a  relative, 
John  Prentiss,  he  published  a  paper  in  the  same  town, 
called  "The  Political  Focus,"  but  this  had  also  a 
brief  existence.  In  1798  or  '99,  he  went  to  George 
town,  in  the  district  of  Columbia,  and,  in  partnership 
with  A.  Rind,  published  the  "  Washington  Federal 
ist."  Afterwards  he  published,  in  Baltimore,  a  politi 
cal  paper,  called  the  "  Anti-Democrat,"  and  edited 
another  in  the  same  city,  called  the  "  Child  of  Pal 
las."  V  This  was  exclusively  a  literary  paper.  In  1804, 
he  visited  England,  —  for  what  particular  purpose,  I 
have  not  been  informect.>  In  1809,  we  find  Mr.  Pren 
tiss  again  in  Boston,  and  about  this  time  he  published  a 
few  numbers  of  a  paper  entitled  "  The  Thistle^Kwhich, 
if  I  remember  aright,  was  devoted  exclusively  to  dra 
matic  criticism  and  reviews  of  theatrical  performances. 
He  was  at  sundry  times  a  correspondent  of  John  Rus 
sell's  and  Russell  &  Cutler's  Boston  Gazette.  For  two 
or  three  years  succeeding  1810,  he  lived  in  Washington 
during  the  sessions  of  Congress,  and  reported  the  pro 
ceedings  of  that  body  for  several  newspapers,  —  edited 
a  paper,  called  "  The  Independent  American,"  —  and 
wrote  Letters  for  Relf's  Philadelphia  Gazette.  In 
1813,  he  wrote  the  Life  of  General  Eaton,  —  a  work, 
which,  from  the  popularity  of  the  subject,  had  consider 
able  notoriety,  but  which  is  now  rarely  to  be  found  in  a 
bookseller's  shop.  In  1817,  and  1818,  he  was  the  editor 
of  the  Virginia  Patriot,  published  in  Richmond.  At  the 
same  time  he  also  contributed  a  number  of  articles,  — 
critical  reviews  of  the  publications  of  the  day,  —  for  a 
Magazine,  which  was  published  in  New-York  by  Horatio 


CHARLES    PRENTISS.  275 

Bigelow  and  Orville  L.  Holley.     He  died  in  Brimfield, 
in  the  county  of  Hampden,  Mass.,  October  20,  1820. 

This  barren  sketch  of  dates  and  "  local  habitations  " 
exhibits  a  melancholy  picture  of  the  precarious  emolu 
ment  derived  from  an  attempt  to  live  by  literature  alone. 
Mr.  Prentiss  was  a  scholar,  a  good  writer,  a  judicious 
critic  ;  he  studied  no  profession,  and  relied  entirely  on 
the  exercise  of  his  pen  for  support  —  a  reliance,  which 
many,  to  their  sorrow,  have  found  unsafe,  delusive,  and 
ineffectual.  Had  Prentiss  lived  half  a  century  later,  he 
might  have  seen  his  literary  offspring  dressed  in  scarlet 
and  gold,  and  died,  leaving  the  copy-right  to  his  heirs. 


THE    VILLAGE   MESSENGER. 


THIS  paper  was  published  at  Amherst,  N.  H.  by 
Biglow  &  Gushing,  and  the  publication  began  with  the 
year  1796.  It  was  very  neatly  printed  on  a  new  type ; 
its  general  appearance  being  much  more  attractive  than 
most  of  the  country  newspapers  at  that  period.  Its 
motto  was,  —  "Whatsoever  things  are  pure — whatso 
ever  things  are  honest."  And  no  sentiment  could  have 
been  selected  more  truly  indicative  of  the  moral  charac 
ter  of  William  Biglow,  who  was  the  principal,  if  not  the 
sole  editor,  and  to  whose  taste  and  talent  it  may  be  con 
cluded  the  paper  was  indebted  for  its  popularity  ;  for 
after  he  left  it,  it  became  a  meagre  record  of  the  passing 
events  of  the  day. 

Mr.  Biglow  was  born  in  Natick,  in  the  county  of 
Middlesex,  Mass,  on  the  twenty-second  day  of  Septem 
ber,  1773.  The  rudiments  of  his  education  were  ob 
tained  at  the  common  school  in  that  town.  He  was 
fitted  for  college  by  "  Old  Parson  Brown  "  of  Sherburne, 
in  the  same  county,  —  entered  Harvard  College  in  1790, 
and  graduated  in  1794.  While  in  college,  he  was  dis 
tinguished  for  his  wit,  and  a  peculiar  talent  for  writing 
poetry  of  a  playful  and  innocent  character.  He  gradu 
ated  as  the  second  scholar  in  his  class,  though  he  and 
most  of  his  classmates  thought  he  should  have  been 


BIGLOW    AND    GUSHING.  277 

placed  first.  After  he  left  college,  he  taught  a  school  in 
Lancaster,  and  commenced  a  course  of  study  with  the 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Thayer  of  that  town,  —  intending  to 
follow  the  profession  of  a  clergyman.  While  here,  he 
wrote  "Omnium  Gatherum,"  for  the  Federal  Orrery. 
To  add  to  his  "  slender  means  "  of  support,  while  pur 
suing  his  preparatory  study,  he  engaged  in  the  manage 
ment  of  the  Village  Messenger,  and  subsequently  wrote 
for  the  Massachusetts  Magazine,  published  in  Boston. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  the  precise  time  when 
Mr.  Biglow  began  to  preach  ;  it  must  have  been  in  1799, 
or  1800.  About  this  time  he  settled  in  Salem  as  a 
teacher,  and  had  a  private  classical  school  of  great  celeb 
rity,  —  preaching  occasionally,  as  circumstances  favored 
his  disposition  for  that  employment.  He  was  frequently 
called  upon  to  preach  at  the  church  in  Brattle-square, 
Boston.  He  removed  from  Salem  to  Boston  to  take 
charge  of  the  Public  Latin  School.  This  place  he  held 
several  years,  and  a  part  of  that  time  supplied  the  pul 
pit  of  the  meeting-house  in  Hollis-street,  after  the  death 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  West,  and  previous  to  the  settlement  of 
the  Rev.  Horace  Holley.  Several  of  his  pupils  at  the 
Boston  Latin  School  are  living  to  testify  to  his  worth. 
Among  these  are  the  Hon.  Edward  Everett,  Rev.  N.  L. 
Frothingham,  Charles  P.  Curtis,  Esq.  and  Dr.  Edward 
Reynolds.  A  propensity  to  convivial  indulgences,  — 
first  acquired,  no  doubt,  at  college,  —  brought  on  infirm 
health,  which  compelled  him  to  leave  the  school,  and  re 
tire  to  his  native  village.  He  passed  some  time  in 
Maine,  keeping  school  and  writing  for  newspapers,  but 
Natick  was  his  home,  and  there  he  always  found  a  refuge 
when  pursued  by  poverty  and  sickness.  He  was  accus- 
24 


278  VILLAGE    MESSENGER. 

tomed  to  walk  to  Boston  —  sometimes  to  ride  with  peo 
ple  who  followed  the  marketing  business,  —  and  spend  a 
day  or  two  in  the  newspaper  printing-offices,  write  poetry 
for  his  friends  the  editors,  and  then  return  to  his  rural 
retreat.  The  latter  part  of  his  life  he  passed  chiefly  at 
Cambridge,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  proof-reader  at 
the  University  printing-office.  This  was  an  employment 
suited  to  his  age  and  his  taste.  He  was  often  heard  to 
say,  —  "I  have  tried  hard  to  correct  my  own  errors,  but 
not  always  so  successfully  as  I  can  correct  the  errors  of 
others." 

While  he  was  engaged  in  school-keeping,  Mr.  Biglow 
published  several  books  for  the  use  of  pupils  preparing 
for  a  collegiate  education,  which  were  approved  and 
much  used.  In  1830,  he  published  a  History  of  Natick, 
and  afterwards  a  History  of  Sherburne.  But  it  is  by 
his  poetical  pieces  of  wit  and  humor  that  he  will  be 
most  delightfully  remembered.  In  1844,  he  was  engaged 
in  proof-reading  at  a  printing  establishment  in  Boston, 
which  had  then  just  been  removed  from  Cambridge. 
On  the  morning  of  January  10,  he  was  seized  with  an 
apoplexy,  and  lingered  until  the  evening  of  the  12th, 
when  he  died.  His  remains  were  interred  at  Natick. 

Whatever  were  the  errors  of  Mr.  Biglow's  early  years, 
they  involved  no  dereliction  from  honesty  and  truth. 
Social  indulgence  in  youth  grew  into  a  habit,  which  was 
the  bane  of  life  in  subsequent  years  ;  —  a  habit,  which  it 
was  hard  to  conquer,  but  which  he  did  conquer,  though 
at  a  period  when  physical  vigor  was  prostrated,  and 
mental  energy  enfeebled,  and  the  "  genial  current  of  the 
soul "  not  frozen,  but  humbled  under  a  painful  sense  of 
errors,  which  no  regret  could  relieve,  and  the  conse- 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  279 

quences  of  short-comings  in  duty,  which  no  repentance 
could  fully  repair.  A  friend,  who,  I  believe  was  once 
his  pupil,  wrote  the  following  character  of  Mr.  Biglow, 
—  to  the  truth  of  which  I  give  my  personal  testimony,  — 
which  was  published  in  the  Boston  Courier  a  few  days 
after  his  death  :  — 


....  He  was  in  the  first  place  a  scholar,  "  and  a  ripe  and  good  one," 
possessed  of  a  mind,  which  mastered  much  with  apparently  but  small 
effort,  imbued  deeply  with  the  fine  elegance  of  classical  literature,  and 
possessed  beside  of  an  attic  wit,  which  was  the  perpetual  delight  of  his 
friends  —  a  wit  "  that  loved  to  play  not  wound."  Had  his  mind  been 
disciplined  or  enured  to  any  thing  more  than  desultory  or  occasional 
effort,  he  might  have  done  much  more.  As  it  was,  every  thing  that  he 
wrote,  and  at  various  times  published  showed  great  power.  His  ser 
mons  were  serious  and  devout,  and  distinguished  by  strong  sense.  He 
compiled  several  reading  books  for  children,  which  gained  him  high 
reputation,  and  an  excellent  Latin  Eeader.  He  was,  however,  most 
known  for  his  poetry  —  full  of  good  humor,  knowledge  of  character,  a 
ready  and  original  style  of  wit,  and  occasional  pathos,  which  came  over 
the  soul  with  a  stronger  influence,  because  it  came  from  a  heart  rich 
with  all  the  sympathies  of  a  most  kind  and  generous  spirit 

After  all  that  can  be  said  in  praise  of  his  mental  attainments,  or  the 
strength  which  gave  them  birth,  it  is  still  on  the  qualities  of  the  heart 
which  his  friends  must  now  dwell  with  the  most  delight.  He  carried 
through  life  that  true  test  of  real  talent,  simplicity  and  buoyancy  of 
feeling,  which  did  not  dread  degradation  from  the  company  of  children 
—  which  loved  to  lay  itself  open  to  their  often  acute  examination;  a 
heart  favorable  to  all  the  influences  of  nature  and  of  truth.  My  first 
remembrance  of  him  is  as  a  sort  of  commander  of  a  military  corps, 
composed  of  his  scholars  in  Salem,  which  he  called  the  Trojan  Band  ; 
and  the  untiring  assiduity  and  kindness  with  which  he  marched  and 
counter-marched  this  miniature  company,  first  made  me  love  him. 
From  this  time,  for  forty  years  I  scarcely  saw  him.  In  the  retirement 
of  Natick,  it  was  my  fortune  once  again  to  meet  him  during  the  last 
summer,  his  health  evidently  somewhat  impaired  by  time,  but  his  spirits 
still  elastic  and  playful,  almost  as  in  the  days  of  infancy.  Playful 
indeed ;  but  still,  ever  and  anon  through  its  play  would  glance  the  influ 
ence  of  a  spirit  somewhat  saddened  by  misfortune  and  time,  but  still 
open  to  all  good  influences,  with  no  shade  of  misanthropy  or  discontent 


280  WILLIAM    BIGLOW. 

to  sully  its  purity,  which  still  proved  its  communion  with  heaven,  by 
loving  all  that  was  worthy  of  its  love  on  earth.  I  have  spoken  of  his 
intemperance,  because  he  himself  would  not  have  wished  it  corrected. 
He  was,  indeed,  very  far  from  boasting  of  his  recovery  from  it,  and  still 
farther  from  calling  public  attention  to  it,  or  making  it  a  source  of  profit 
by  lectures.  He  knew,  indeed,  that  those  who  knew  him  must  have 
felt  the  evils  of  intemperance,  with  a  force  stronger  than  any  words 
could  utter.  He  was  loved  by  all ;  with  a  strong  mind,  and  perhaps 
somewhat  proud  by  nature,  distinguished  by  his  attainments,  known 
but  not  feared  for  his  wit.  What  such  a  being  might  have  been,  had 
his  mind  been  tasked  to  it,  all  could  see.  The  comparative  obscurity 
of  his  later  days,  must  have  pained  him  ;  but  if  so,  the  pain  did  not 
make  him  harsh  or  unkind,  and  the  consequences  of  his  improper 
indulgence,  though  so  nobly  redeemed,  would  "  still  make  themselves 
felt  Avith  utterance." 

He  was,  indeed,  a  true-hearted  and  most  kind  man.  It  was  delight 
ful  to  meet  with  him  during  the  last  summer,  relieved  for  a  few  weeks 
from  the  drudgery  of  his  daily  avocation,  surrounded  by  his  friends, 
and  to  recall  with  him  the  traditions  of  such  a  place  as  Natick ;  to 
stand  with  him  under  the  oak  from  which  the  Apostolic  Eliot  called 
the  wild  Indian  to  repentance  and  to  Christ ;  to  wander  forth  through 
the  deep  shades,  and  the  still  pastures,  tracing  the  dwelling  places  of 
those  sons  of  the  forest,  or  kneeling  over  the  grey  stones  which  marked 
their  last  resting  places  on  earth.  Here,  too,  he  recalled  to  me  the 
memories  of  the  loved  and  lost,  whom  we  had  known  in  early  life  ;  and 
here,  too,  he  spoke  of  one  whose  soul  was  even  then  stretching  her 
wings  for  immortal  flight. 

Of  Biglow's  poetical  performances  while  in  college, 
that,  which  gave  him  the  greatest  notoriety,  was  an 
imitation  of  the  old  English  Song,  —  "  Heathen  Mytho 
logy,"  —  written  for  a  convivial  meeting  of  his  class. 
He  was  surprized,  a  few  months  after,  to  see  it  with 
some  variations,  in  the  Columbian  Centinel,  introduced 
by  the  following  note  to  the  editor :  — 

MR.  KUSSELL,  —  The  votaries  of  the  Semelian  god  have  been  gen 
erally  celebrated  rather  for  the  Epicurean  conviviality,  than  the  Hora- 
tian  acumen  of  their  festive  carols.  The  following,  we  think,  is  an 
honorable  exception ;  still,  it  is  unfortunate  for  the  poet,  that  the  nature 
of  the  subject  involves  him  in  a  degree  of  obscurity,  which  renders  him 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  281 

less  pleasing  to  those,  Avho  are  removed  from  the  sphere  of  locality  and 
anecdote.  But,  thus  much  may  with  propriety  he  observed,  that  the 
phiz-hitting  pencil  of  Hogarth  could  not  portray  the  features  of  this 
academical  group  with  a  more  striking  justness  of  coloring  than  this 
Bacchanalian  muse  has  described  them. 

The  publication  of  this  piece  caused  an  attack  upon 
its  author,  which  was  published  in  the  Mercury,  and 
this  produced  a  retort  from  Biglow,  which  may  be 
found  in  the  Centinel,  under  the  title  of  "  Assology, 
inscribed  to  the  well  beloved  '  Squire  Laureat  Tobey." 
Biglow  had  been  familiarly  called  by  his  class  "  Saw 
ney,"  and  in  this  retort  on  his  antagonist,  he  adopted 
the  signature,  "  '  Squire  Sawney."  '  Squire  Tobey 
came  out  in  the  next  Centinel  with  a  rejoinder,  the  bit 
terness  of  which  was  paralleled  only  by  its  vulgarity. 
Biglow  rather  laughed  at  the  ill-nature  of  his  opponent, 
and  took  no  further  notice  of  his  spiteful  ebullitions, 
than  to  publish  the  following  :  — 

'  SQUIRE    SAWNEY   TO   '  SQUIRE   TOBEY. 

The  scurrilous  dirt  you  have  kicked  up  at  me, 
To  the  public  demonstrates  you  are  nettled  to  see 

A  figure  so  true  in  "  Assology  glass  ; " 
"  Where  a  coat  fits,"  the  say  is,  "  there  let  it  be  worn  ;  " 
Where  the  ass's  skin  suits,  by  the  same  be  it  borne  ; 

So  farewell  to  squibbing  —  bray  on,  Mr.  Ass. 

This  "  imitation  "  was  frequently  reprinted,  under  the 
title  of  "  Junior-Classology."  In  1843,  the  author  him 
self  had  it  printed  for  distribution  among  his  college 
friends.  This  edition  of  it,  with  his  introductory  notice, 
is  here  given :  — 

The  following  Anacreontic  was  written  in  Harvard  University,  in  the 
Autumn  of  A.  D.  1793,  for  the  amusement  of  the  class  whose  names  it 
bears,  and  of  their  cotcmporaries.    It  soon  found  its  way  into  a  news 
paper,  and  extended  the  amusement  beyond  the  walls  of  college.    It  is 
24* 


282  WILLIAM    BIGLOW. 

now  reprinted  at  the  particular  solicitation  of  many — some  of  whom 
are  mentioned  by  name  in  the  production.  The  last  stanza  in  this 
edition  was  added  by  the  author,  A.  D.  1842. 

CLASSOLOGY. 

Songs  of  scholars  in  reveling  roundelays, 

Belched  out  with  hickups  at  bacchanal  GO, 

Bellowed,  till  heaven's  high  concave  rebound  the  lays, 

Are  all  for  college  carousals  too  low. 

Of  dullness  quite  tired,  with  merriment  fired, 

And  fully  inspired  with  amity's  glow, 

With  hate-drowning  wine,  boys,  and  punch  all  divine,  boys, 

The  Juniors  combine,  boys,  in  friendly  HIGH  GO. 

ABBOTT,  contemplative,  never  refused 

From  silence  to  rise  and  with  humor  be  blest, 

And  AINSWORTH  awhile  from  his  books  was  amused, 

And  both  in  good  spirits  conjoined  with  the  rest. 

Then  modest  TIM  ALDEN  came  eager,  when  called  in, 

Without  being  hauled  in  by  Arabic's  foe, 

Witty  GEORGE  APPLETON,  high-blooded  ATHERTON, 

Rigadoon  ATKINSON  joined  the  HIGH  GO. 

Then  little  high  Sawney,  called  BIGLOW,  appeared  in  view, 

Mid  the  full  chorus  distending  his  lungs, 

And  BOWERS,  sage  president,  whom  Jove  continue 

With  pleasure  ecstatic  to  rant  at  our  BUNGS. 

Here  too  I  might  tell  how  TOM  BOWMAN,  hale  fellow, 

Did  blubber  and  bellow,  but  won 't  stoop  so  low, 

While  B  RAM  AN  split-razor  the  Plutus  of  pleasure, 

Exhausted  his  treasure  to  enrich  the  HIGH  GO. 

With  long  pipe  well  filled  Master  BROOKS  was  here  seated, 
And  looked,  like  himself,  a  true  good-natured  soul ; 
But  the  charge  of  all  charges  to  BROWN  was  committed, 
To  mix  with  discretion  the  nectareous  bowl. 
Then  jovial  CHANNING,  fired  merriment  fanning, 
Was  never  for  ganging,  while  liquor  should  flow, 
And  CROSBY,  the  blood,  would  be  doomed  if  he  would 
Sneak  away,  if  he  could,  and  not  join  the  HIGH  GO. 

Buck  GUSHING,  who  ne'er  to  high  fellow  knocked  under, 
Full  widely  awake  now  engaged  with  the  throng, 
And  all-eating,  omnimouthed,  all-smiling  DUNBAR 
Deep  base  loudly  thundered  to  mirth-sounding  song. 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  283 

Nor  did  EMERSON  lag,  of  his  beauty  to  brag, 
But  with  calm  Coggy  FLAGG,  boys,  himself  he  did  show; 
Fat  FLINT  was  scarce  able  to  clear  the  sixth  table, 
Ere  with  the  pleased  rabble  he  met  in  HIGH  GO. 

Next  GETER,  eldest  author,  though  youngest  in  years,  came, 

And  blew  the  high  flame  of  high  jollity  higher, 

And  HOWE,  loudly  welcomed  with  three  sounding  cheers,  came, 

And  JACKSON,  the  orator,  joined  the  glad  choir. 

Then  KENDALL  from  high  metaphysical  sky 

Condescended  to  fly  on  a  visit  below ; 

From  Pike's  learned  page  came  MC!VEAN  in  glad  rage 

The  full  vessels  to  gauge  and  to  bless  the  HIGH  GO. 

Grave  OLDS  next  the  steady  puellarum  magister, 

And  placid  PEAIJODY  commixed  with  the  rest, 

And  PERKINS,  of  mirth  and  good  cheer  brave  assister, 

"With  his  doctorship's  presence  the  rapture  increased, 

And  STEARNS,  the  new-comer,  left  Euclid  and  Homer 

And  joined  with  the  former,  while  TRASK,  the  new  beau, 

Drest  out  alamode,  with  uneasiness  glowed, 

Till  himself  he  had  showed  in  the  midst  of  HIGH  GO. 

HALL  TUFTS  the  Monsieur  came,  with  burlesque  French  phrases, 

Bon  sketer,  ji  nesse  pa>  en  verit&; 

Young  poet  WHIPPLE,  high  mounted  on  Pegasus, 

Galloped  full  speed  to  the  loud  "  Hark  away." 

Then  wine,  sweetest  treasure,  and  punch  without  measure, 

Blythe  parent  of  pleasure,  the  waiters  bestow, 

Wherewith  infused  and,  faith,  almost  boozied, 

This  song  I  produced  in  praise  of  HIGH  GO. 

Come  on,  merry  lads,  toss  the  bumper  and  bowl  round, 
Throw  follies  and  quarrels  of  schoolboys  away ; 
Let  malice  no  longer  becloud  the  glad  soul  round, 
But  friendship  enlighten  with  heavenly  ray. 
With  hearty  compliance  we  '11  form  an  alliance, 
And  bid  bold  defiance  to  sorrow  and  wo  ; 
We  '11  ne'er  be  afraid,  boys,  though  tutors  parade,  boys, 
Here 's  health  to  the  blade,  boys,  who  loves  a  HIGH  GO. 

In  the  midst  of  the  row  Senior  PIERCE  was  invited 
In  mirth  and  in  song  with  the  Juniors  to  join ; 
He  gladly  complied  —  but  was  awfully  frighted 
At  sight,  on  the  tables,  of  punch  and  of  wine. 


284  VILLAGE    MESSENGER. 

"  O  murder  and  slaughter  ! "  he  cried  out  in  torture, 
" Bring,  bring  me  cold  water,  and  I'll  not  be  slow; 

Place  water  the  nighest,  —  I  '11  drink  with  the  driest, 

And  soon  be  the  highest  in  all  the  HIGH  GO." 

The  senior,  mentioned  in  the  last  stanza,  was  the 
late  Rev.  John  Pierce,  of  Brookline,  an  advocate  of 
temperance  from  his  earliest  years.  His  whole  life  was 
a  practical  evidence  of  the  sincerity  and  utility  of  his 
principles. 

The  following  Anacreontic  was  written  the  next  year, 
1793,  and  was  handed  down  from  year  to  year,  and 
from  class  to  class,  and  sung  at  festive  entertainments, 
for  a  long  succession  of  years.  Probably  the  "  temper 
ance  reform  "  has  banished  it  from  the  college  rooms, 
and  substituted  something  more  congenial  to  the  fashion 
of  the  age :  — 

THE    BUMPER    OF    WINE. 

A  New  Song,  calculated  for  the  meridian  of  North  Entry,  [Famous  for 
" High  Fellows"]  Hollis  Hall,  in  Harvard  University ;  but  will  serve 
without  any  sensible  error  for  our  Colleges  throughout  the  United  States. 

Ye  lovers  of  liquor,  of  friendship,  and  joy, 

Let  Greek  and  let  Latin  no  longer  annoy ; 

Dull  epics  of  Homer  and  Virgil  resign  ; 

Our  song  is  in  praise  of  a  bumper  of  wine. 

The  deep  metaphysics  serve  only  to  show 
How  little  their  studious  votaries  know ; 
We  ask  not  if  matter  and  spirit  can  join,  — 
We  find  them  unite  in  a  bumper  of  wine. 

For  Pike  and  for  Euclid  not  one  of  us  cares  ; 
Farewell  to  their  angles,  lines,  circles  and  squares  ; 
Plain  nature  will  teach  us  to  form  a  curve  line, 
Or  a  circle  of  friends,  round  a  bumper  of  wine. 

Let  Enfield  investigate  physical  laws,  — 
For  every  phenomenon  guess  at  the  cause  ; 
Suffice  it  for  us,  that  the  fruit  of  the  vine, 
When  pressed,  will  produce  us  a  bumper  of  wine. 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  285 

Physicians  may  swear  to  secure  us  in  health, 
They  care  for  no  more  than  a  gripe  at  our  wealth ; 
Emetics  and  opiates  they  may  enjoin, 
But  these  are  contained  in  a  bumper  of  wine. 

Our  good-natured  revels  no  contention  shall  draw 
Around  the  drear  mazes  of  labyrinth  law ; 
On  quaiTcls  let  lawyers  and  judges  refine, 
But  we'll  drown  all  ours  in  a  bumper  of  wine. 

May  bards  ne'er  be  wanting  to  furnish  a  song, 
To  make  life  draw  easy  and  smoothly  along ; 
Yet  these  need  no  longer  invoke  the  coy  Nine, 
For  Helicon's  fount  is  a  bumper  of  wine. 

Here  's  a  bumper  to  ours  and  plain  honesty's  friend, 
May  health  and  contentment  for  ever  attend, 
And  let  him  be  lawyer,  physician,  divine, 
May  he  ne'er  want  a  friend,  nor  a  bumper  of  wine! 

While  he  was  editor  of  the  Village  Messenger,  Big- 
low  wrote  a  number  of  articles,  —  much  in  the  style, 
which  Noah  Webster  had  rendered  popular  by  his 
essays,  called  The  Prompter,  —  taking  for  a  motto  or 
text,  some  passage  of  scripture,  of  which  the  following 
is  a  sample:  — 

"  Ye  blind  guides,  who  strain  at  a  gnat  and  swallow  a  camel" 

There  are  many  of  these  blind  guides,  even  in  these  days  of  wisdom 
and  refinement  —  many  more  than  will  either  own  or  believe  them 
selves  of  this  description. 

I  know  one  Dick  Instability,  who  is  ever  crying  down  novels,  when 
in  company  with  the  ladies,  as  though  it  wounded  his  conscience  to  have 
such  vile  productions  perused ;  and  yet  I  have  seen  this  same  Dick  at 
the  loo  table  as  late  as  twelve  at  night,  with  as  much  brandy  in  his 
head  as  he  could  carry,  and  more  than  he  ought  to  carry.  The  truth 
is  he  strains  at  a  gnat  and  swallows  a  camel. 

There  is  old  Moses  Moneycatcher  would  sooner  have  the  plague 
brought  into  his  house,  than  a  pack  of  cards,  even  for  his  children  to 
take  a  sober  game  of  whist.  Yet  it  is  not  a  week  since  I  found  him 
exulting  in  his  good  luck  at  a  shooting-match,  where  he  had  gained 
three  turkeys  for  a  quarter  of  a  dollar.  The  man  is  certainly  a  blind 
guide,  who  strains  at  a  gnat  and  swallows  a  came!. 


286  VILLAGE    MESSENGER. 

When  a  young  lady  hides  her  face  behind  her  fan  at  a  double  entendre, 
even  where  none  was  meant,  and  afterwards  sits  up  all  night  to  read 
Tom  Jones  or  Tristram  Shandy,  she  most  assuredly  strains  at  a  gnat 
and  swallows  a  camel. 

Our  good  country  people,  who  most  conscientiously  avoid  an  oath ; 
but  will  sniggers,  swampit,  and  fags,  and  give  the  devil  a  thousand  nick 
names,  and  affirm  by  the  living  jingo,  by  George,  &c.  do  not  consider 
that  these  are  substituted  for  the  most  awful  oaths,  and  that,  in  addition 
to  the  wickedness  of  them,  they  are  most  abominably  silly.  Persons  of 
this  description  strain  at  a  gnat  and  swallow  a  camel. 

After  he  left  the  Messenger,  Biglow  sent  a  number  of 
articles  to  his  friend  Dennie,  for  publication  in  the  Farm 
er's  Museum,  which,  as  they  were  "composed  of  a 
farrago  of  materials,  intended  to  effectuate  the  destruc 
tion  of  those  enemies  of  mankind,  spleen,  immorality, 
and  irreligion,"  he  proposed  to  call  "  OLIO."  The  fol 
lowing  is  the  first  number :  — 

EXTRACT  FROM  A  MANUSCRIPT  POEM. 

In  ballads  first  I  spent  my  boyish  time ; 

At  college,  next,  I  soared  in  doggerel  rhyme  ; 

Then  of  a  school  the  master  arid  adorner, 

I  scribbled  verses  for  a  Poet's  Corner. 

But  when,  ere  while,  I  strove,  with  slender  means, 

Newspapers  to  edite,  and  Magazines ; 

The  public  frowned,  and  warned  me,  at  my  peril, 

To  drop  the  pen,  and  reassume  tlie  ferule. 

And  now,  enchanting  poetry,  adieu ! 

Thy  syren  charms  no  longer  I  pursue. 

Past  are  those  days  of  indolence  and  joy, 

When  tender  parents  nursed  their  darling  boy, 

In  Harvard's  walls  maintained  me  many  a  year, 

Nor  let  one  dun  discordant  grate  my  ear. 

For  love  of  thee  I  quitted  love  of  gold, 

My  Pike  neglected  and  my  Euclid  sold  5 

On  fancy's  wings  from  Poverty  upborne, 

Saw  not  my  coat  was  patched,  my  stockings  torn  ; 

With  childish  creep  approached  Pieria's  springs, 

Nor,  when  a  man,  could  put  off  childish  things. 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  287 

Still  by  some  ignis  fatuus  led  astray, 
I  've  wandered  on  through  many  a  dismal  way : 
Have  seen  my  golden  prospects  end  in  dross ; 
Fought  for  a  myrtle  crown,  and  gained  a  cross. 
Too  proud  to  court  the  little  or  the  great, 
Thy  votaries  never  rise  in  church  nor  state ; 
Not  all  thy  power  from  bailiffs  can  secure, 
Nor  coax  our  wary  fair  to  "  marry  poor." 
Farewell !  On  others  inspiration  flash, 
Give  them  eternal  fame  —  but  give  me  cash. 

Adieu,  thou  busy  world  !  I  quit  thy  cares  ; 

Thy  luring  smiles  I've  viewed,  and  found  them  snares ; 

Thy  towering  hopes  pursued,  and  found  them  vain  ; 

Thy  pleasures  tasted,  and  have  found  them  pain ; 

Far  other  objects,  now,  my  heart  shall  bind 

With  sacred  truths  to  store  my  youthful  mind, 

The  lessons  learn,  by  godlike  reason  given, 

And  trace  religion's  path,  which  leads  to  heaven. 

CHARLES  CHATTERBOX. 

The  following   was   probably  written   while  he  was 
engaged  for  the  Massachusetts  Magazine :  — 

RECEIPT    TO    MAKE    A    MAGAZINE. 

A  plate,  of  art  and  meaning  void, 

To  explain  it  a  whole  page  employed : 

Two  tales  prolonged  of  maids  deluded ; 

Two  more  begun,  and  one  concluded  ; 

Life  of  a  fool  to  fortune  risen  ; 

The  death  of  a  starved  bard  in  prison ; 

On  woman,  beauty-spot  of  nature, 

A  panegyric  and  a  satire ; 

Cook's  voyages,  in  continuation ; 

On  taste  a  tasteless  dissertation ; 

Description  of  two  fowls  aquatic : 

A  list  of  ladies,  enigmatic  ; 

A  story  true  from  French  translated, 

Which,  with  a  lie,  might  well  be  mated  5 


288  WILLIAM    BIGLOW. 

A  mangled  slice  of  English  history ; 
Essays  on  miracles  and  mystery ; 
An  unknown  character  attacked, 
In  story  founded  upon  fact : 
Advice  to  jilts,  coquets,  and  prudes  : 
And  thus  the  pompous  Prose  concludes. 

For  Poetry  —  a  birth-day  ode ; 

A  fable  of  the  mouse  and  toad ; 

A  modest  wish  for  a  kind  wife, 

And  all  the  other  joys  of  life; 

A  song,  descriptive  of  the  season  ; 

A  poem,  free  from  rhyme  and  reason  : 

A  drunken  song,  to  banish  care ; 

A  simple  sonnet  to  despair ; 

Some  stanzas  on  a  bridal  bed ; 

An  epitaph  on  Shock,  just  dead  ; 

A  pointless  epigram  on  censure ; 

An  imitation  of  old  Spenser ; 

A  dull  acrostic  and  a  rebus; 

A  blustering  monody  to  Phoebus ; 

The  country  'gainst  the  town  defended ; 

And  thus  the  Poetry  is  ended. 

Next,  from  the  public  prints,  display 

The  news  and  lyings  of  the  day ; 

Paint  bloody  Mars  &  Co.  surrounded 

By  thousands  slain,  ten  thousand  wounded  : 

Steer  your  sly  politics  between 

The  Aristocrat  and  Jacobin ; 

Then  end  the  whole,  both  prose  and  rhyme,  in 

The  ravages  of  Death  and  Hymen. 

I  will  add  but  one  more  specimen  of  Mr.  Biglow's 
off-hand  poetical  productions.  It  is  a  New  Year's  Ad 
dress,  written  for  the  Carriers  of  the  New-England 
Galaxy,  January  J,  1826.  As  will  be  perceived,  it  is 
written  after  the  manner  (it  cannot  be  called  a  parody, 
nor  an  imitation)  of  an  old  English  song,  called  "  The 
Prophets."  This  form  I  recommended  to  him,  and  the 
poem  was  finished  the  day  after  it  was  ordered  :  — 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  289 

FEAST    OF    THE    EDITOKS. 

iV7Z  ego  protulerim  jucundo  sarnts  amico.  —  Hor.  Sat. 
Last  night,  'tis  reported,  our  -Editors  met 
In  the  Hall  of  the  News-room,  their  whistles  to  wet, 
Determined  like  friends  of  good  metal  and  cheer, 
To  drink  out  the  old  and  drink  in  the  new  year. 

The  meeting  to  form,  they  at  once  all  agreed, 
And  then  to  their  business  in  order  proceed ; 
But  first  it  was  voted,  their  glee  to  prolong, 
Each  should  tell  a  good  story,  or  sing  a  new  song. 

Mr.  Senator  RUSSELL  was  called  to  the  Chair, 
And  he  soon  dispensed  mirth  and  maccohoy  there  ; 
The  meeting  he  thanked  for  his  lofty  promotion, 
And  chanted  his  song  with  heart-felt  devotion. 

TUNE.  —  Miss  Bailey. 

I  am  an  older  editor,  than  any  on  the  stand,  sirs  ; 
Legitimacy  I  '11  maintain  in  this,  and  every  land,  sirs: 
Our  rulers  here  we  always  choose,  all  by  the  people's  voice,  sirs ; 
If  others  like  another  mode,  pray  let  them  take  their  choice,  sirs. 

Legitimate  Adams  !  Fortunate  Adams  ! 
He  is  our  lawful  President,  then  wherefore  make  a  noise,  sirs. 

The  Centinel,  for  many  years,  upon  the  watch  has  stood,  sirs ; 
And  still  shall  stand  firm  at  its  post,  to  guard  the  public  good,  sirs  ; 
And  while  for  faction's  wounds  it  aims  to  find  effectual  healings, 
It  shall  proclaim  the  Union's  laws,  to  regulate  your  dealings  ! 

O  the  Centinel !  The  watchful  Centinel, 
Long  as  it  lasts,  shall  celebrate  the  era  of  good  feelings. 

Brother  RNTAPP  then  arose,  mid  the  good-humored  set, 
To  do  what  he  could  for  the  widow's  Gazette ;  * 
But  he  thought  that  he  best  might  succeed  in  a  story, 
Since  he  ne'er  in  his  skill,  as  a  singer,  could  glory. 

But  'twas  voted,  nem.  con.  that  they  all  would  excuse 
The  defects  of  his  wind  and  his  music  and  muse : 
He  confessed  that  his  stories  were  apt  to  be  long, 
Yet  he  looked  rather  black,  as  he  chanted  his  song. 
TUNE. —  We  'II  aprons  put  on. 

The  Commercial  Gazette  shall  never  forget 

The  duties  we  owe  to  the  nation ; 
And  though  we  may  nap,  we  will  dream  in  the  trap 

Of  no  faction  to  suffer  starvation. 

*  See  Knapp's  Valedictory,  p.  260. 
VOL.    II.  25 


290  WILLIAM    BIGLOW. 


When  Adams  was  named  for  the  office  he  claimed 
By  the  greedy  for  loaves  and  for  fishes, 

'Tis  true,  we  began  by  abusing  the  Man,  — 
But  the  President  has  our  best  wishes. 

The  song  was  scarce  finished  when  GREENE,  *  in  a  rage 
For  himself  and  his  partner,  was  prompt  to  engage ; 
And  he  threw  a  stout  look  of  defiance  among 
All  the  brothers  and  bottles  around,  as  he  sung. 

TUNE.  —  Battle  of  the  kegs. 

Oh !  ye  may  grin  and  laugh  who  win, 

And  at  your  triumph  chuckle ; 
The  Statesman  will  be  saucy  still, 

And  ne'er  to  Adams  knuckle. 

Ay,  lowly  bow  in  worship  now 

Before  the  rising  sun,  sirs  ; 
Let  come  what  may,  ye  ne'er  shall  say 

We  strike  at  the  first  gun,  sirs. 

Now  by  the  powers  !  this  land  of  ours 

Its  name  for  freedom  loses, 
When  such  a  man  as  Adams  can 

Pluck  all  our  beards  and  noses ! 

Crawford,  we're  told,  was  begged  to  hold 
The  purse-strings  of  the  nation  ; 

But  *  *  #*=*:* 

Much  more  had  he  sung,  but  the  chairman  seemed  vext 
And  told  YOUNG  and  MINNS  'twas  their  turn  to  sing  next ; 
They  winked  at  each  other,  and  fashioned  their  strain 
To  promote,  in  the  meeting,  good  humor  again. 

TUNE.  —Jolly  Millers. 

In  titbit  paragraphs  we  tell  the  news  of  every  sort ; 

And,  like  Procrustes  with  his  bed,  we  dock  long  tales  to  short: 

For  sects  and  parties  'tis  our  aim  to  make  but  little  fuss ; 

And  if  we  care  not  for  the  world,  —  the  world  cares  not  for  us. 

The  chairman  then  nodded  to  classical  HALE, 
Who  regretted  the  dignified  Daily  should  fail ; 
But  to  make  his  apology  took  him  so  long, 
'Twas  voted  a  story,  and  saved  him  his  song ! 

Next,  FESSENDEN  rose,  with  '  a  round  face  and  body,' 
Declaring,  although  it  might  seem  very  odd,  he 

*  Nathaniel  Greene,  editor  of  the  Statesman. 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  291 


Could  not,  for  the  life  of  him,  give  them  a  song, 
Unless  he  should  make  it  as  he  went  along. 

TUNE.  —  0  dear  !  what  can  the  matter  be  ? 

Since  I  have  turned  Farmer,  if  one  of  the  muses 
I  woo  to  my  service,  the  coy  jade  refuses, 
And  old  friend  Apollo  my  corn-field  abuses  ! 

"  Non  sum  qualis  cram." 
O  dear  !  what  can  the  matter  be  ? 
Since  dairies  began  to  succor  and  spatter  me, 
The  nymphs  of  Parnassus  are  deaf  to  my  flattery,  — 

So  fine  me  a  hot-toddy  dram. 

His  finger  the  chairman  then  pointed  [£F=>  to  CLAPP, 
Who  snored  o'er  the  Evening  Gazette,  in  a  nap ; 
He  said  he  ne'er  sung,  but  in  notes  most  sonorous 
He  hummed  a  brisk  tune,  and  all  joined  in  the  chorus. 

TUNE.  —  Saturday  night  still  comes. 

The  next,  that  came  forward,  were  BALLARD  and  WEIGHT, 
Both  cleaning  their  throttles  and  bowing  polite ; 
But  they  feared  they  should  '  buy  no  opinions  of  gold,' 
As  one  seldom  sung,  t'other  had  a  bad  cold. 

TUNE.  —  Yankee  Doodle. 

The  Chronicle  from  able  hands, 

Ye  know  to  us  came  down,  sirs ; 
And  still  its  credit  firmly  stands, 

In  country  and  in  town,  sirs. 
Yankee  Doodle,  keep  it  up  — 

We  stick  to  the  old-school,  sirs ; 
So  here 's  for  liberty  !  a  cup, 

And  may  the  people  rule,  sirs. 

The  only  learning  freemen  need 

Is  democratic  knowledge, 
And  while  they  can  the  Patriot  read 

A  fig  for  Harvard  College ! 

Yankee  Doodle,  keep  it  up,  &c. 

In  vain  for  power  the  tories  try, 

And  all  their  virtues  mention ; 
We  stop  their  mouths,  whene'er  we  cry 

The  watchword  of  Convention  I 

Yankee  Doodle,  keep  it  up,  &c. 

The  chairman  then  called  upon  HALLOCK  and  WILLIS, 
Whose  Recorder  has  long  been  a  learning,  and  still  is  ! 
And  this  is  the  Hymn,  they  with  emphasis  thundered, 
By  a  few  others  joined,  to  the  tune  of  Old  Hundred. 


292  WILLIAM    BIGLOW. 


Great  Calvin  !  with  humility 
We  dedicate  our  Press  to  thce  ; 
Oh  !  m&y  it  bid  thy  doctrines  roll 
From  sea  to  sea,  from  pole  to  pole. 

By  "awful  warning"  we  would  keep 
Within  the  fold  thy  straying  sheep ! 
And  we  would  guard  the  orthodox 
From  anti-christian  wiles  and  knocks  ! 

Then  BADGER  and  PORTER,  *  all  booted  and  spurred, 
Like  Castor  and  Pollux,  sprung  forth  at  a  word ; 
Though  jaded  with  speed  and  hiyh-prcssure,  they  swore 
They  would  whistle  an  air.  but  could  do  nothing  more. 

TUNE.  —  Wayworn  Traveller. 
With  an  air  then  arose  great  Brother  Ballou,  f 
As  much  as  to  say,  '  Sirs,  who  but  I,  who  ? ' 
And  he  thought  that  his  doctrines  were  so  Universal 
ly  known,  that  they  hardly  required  a  rehearsal. 

TUNE.  — Peas  upon  a  trencher. 

My  lads  it  is  all  folly 
To  yield  to  melancholy ; 

For  there 's  no  hell, 

But  where  we  dwell, 
Then  wherefore  not  be  jolly  ? 
Mankind  are  all  mistaken, 
Who  think  the  vile  forsaken ; 

For  though  we  stray 

From  Virtue's  way, 
We  still  shall  save  our  bacon ! 

The  chairman  next  called  upon  good  Dr.  COTTON,  \ 
Whose  Medical  paper  could  not  be  forgotten  ; 
He  preluded  his  dirge  in  a  bumper  of  water, 
And  beat  his  own  time  with  a  pestle  and  mortar. 

TUNE.  —  Floyd's  Hymn. 

The  life  of  man 's  a  life  of  wo ! 
We  live  to  die,  —  to  die  we  grow  ; 
To-day  we  laugh,  to-day  we  cry, 
To-morrow  take  a  cold  and  die  ! 

Whate'er  the  doctors  say  or  think, 
There 's  death  in  all  we  eat  and  drink, 

*  Editors  of  the  American  Traveller. 

t  Rev.  H.  Ballou,  editor  of  a  Uuiversalist  paper. 

J  John  Cotton,  publisher  of  the  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal. 


WILLIAM    BIGLOW.  293 

Death,  in  each  pill-box  they  have  got, 
Death,  even  in  this  pewter  pot ! 

Oh  !  when  will  quacks  their  arts  throw  by, 
And  men,  secundum  artem,  die  ? 
How  long  must  we  be  dosed  with  jugs 
And  gallipots  of  Conway's  drugs  ? 

Should  I  while  singing,  not  avoid 

To  trill  Avith  "  process  condyloid  " 

At  edge  of  "  glenoid  cavity," 

My  jaws  would  break  thus  —  eh !  —  eh !  —  eh ! 

When  a  story  or  song  was  demanded  from  KEED,  * 
He  modestly  doubted  how  he  might  succeed ; 
But  still  he  was  willing  to  sing  with  his  brothers, 
And  hoped  for  that  candor,  which  he  showed  to  others. 
TUNE.  —  St.  Helen's. 

On  others'  faith  we  '11  not  intrude, 
Nor  with  their  practice  be  too  rude, 

Whate'er  their  creeds,  or  ours,  may  be  j 
While  in  our  hearts  we  feel  the  flame 
Of  love  and  charity,  a  name 

Can  never  make  us  disagree. 

Then  BUCKINGHAM  stood  half-erect  in  his  place, 
With  a  reprobate  leer  on  his  sanctified  face  ; 
He  said  not  a  word,  but  his  looks  seemed  to  say, 
I  will  sing  my  own  ditty,  and  in  my  own  way. 
TUNE.  —  Adams  and  Liberty. 

The  rights  of  the  Press  let  us  firmly  maintain, 

Though  foes  should  deride  and  friends  should  forsake  us  ; 
Neither  favor  nor  fear  shall  our  freedom  restrain, 
For  if  patrons  will  pay,  the  banks  cannot  break  us. 
Let  Noah  ne'er  hint, 
With  a  villanous  squint, 

That  a  Yankee  dares  think  what  he  dares  not  to  print ; 
Though  libels  are  libels  because  they  are  true, 
We  care  not,  and, ,  there  's  no  danger  for  you. 

The  chairman  here  bolted  a  deep  pinch  of  snuff, 
And  cried,  "By  Apollo !  we  've  heard  songs  enough ! 
For  the  clocks  to  strike  small  ones  already  begin, 
So  the  Old  Year  is  out,  and  the  New  Year  is  in." 

Then  all  having  pledged,  "  Long  life  and  success 

To  the  friends  of  a  free  and  a  liberal  Press  "  — 

Three  bumpers  !  —  three  cheers !  —  in  good  humor  they  parted, 

And  each  for  his  dwelling,  well-satisfied,  started. 

*  David  Reed,  publisher  of  the  Christian  Register. 
25* 


AND 


BOSTON  DAILY  ADVERTISER. 


THE  publication  of  a  daily  paper  with  this  title  was 
begun  in  Boston,  October  6,  1796.  The  imprint  stated 
that  it  was  printed  by  ALEXANDER  MARTIN  for  the  pro 
prietors,  but  no  proprietors'  names  are  mentioned.  The 
editor  was  JOHN  BURK,  a  fugitive  from  Ireland,  where 
he  had  exposed  himself  to  the  vindictive  power  of  the 
government,  by  his  connection  with  James,  Napper 
Tandy,  and  others  of  the  band,  called  United  Irishmen. 
The  first  few  numbers  were  on  a  crown  sheet.  It  was 
then  enlarged,  and  printed  on  demy ;  and,  in  about  six 
weeks,  appeared  on  a  sheet  of  royal  size.  This,  I 
believe,  was  the  first  attempt  to  establish  a  daily  paper 
in  Boston.  The.  editor's  opening  address,  —  and,  in 
fact,  all  his  editorials,  —  indicate  that  he  was  master  of 
a  fervid  style,  and  wrote  with  feelings  intensely  opposed 
to  every  thing  that  was  hostile  to  the  liberty  of  speech 


JOHN    BURK.  295 

and  the  press.  After  expressing  his  gratitude  for  the 
patronage  his  paper  had  received  in  advance,  and  des 
canting  on  the  advantages  of  a  daily  paper,  he  pro 
ceeded  to  say  :  — 

This,  Fellow-  Citizens !  is  a  proof  of  the  advantages  arising  from  a 
daily  publication.  I  call  you  FELLOW-CITIZENS  !  for  I  too  am  a  citi 
zen  of  these  states.  From  the  moment  a  stranger  puts  his  foot  on  the 
soil  of  America,  his  fetters  are  rent  in  pieces,  and  the  scales  of  servi 
tude,  which  he  had  contracted  under  European  tyrannies,  fall  oif;  he 
becomes  a  FREE  MAN  ;  and  though  civil  regulations  may  refuse  him  the 
immediate  exercise  of  his  rights,  he  is  virtually  a  citizen.  He  sees  a 
moral,  intrepid,  and  enlightened  community  ranged  under  the  banners 
of  equality  and  justice;  and,  by  the  natural  sympathy,  that  subsists 
between  the  mind  and  every  thing  that  is  amiable,  he  finds  his  affec 
tions  irresistibly  attracted ;  he  resigns  his  prejudices  on  the  threshold  of 
the  temple  of  liberty ;  they  are  melted  down  in  the  great  crucible  of 
public  opinion.  This  I  take  to  be  the  way  in  which  all  strangers  are 
affected  when  they  enter  these  states ;  that  I  am  so,  will  be  little 
doubted,  when  it  is  known  how  much  I  am  indebted  to  their  munifi 
cence  and  liberality.  I  shall  give  better  proofs  of  it  than  words  — 
there  is  nothing  that  I  would  not  resign  for  your  service,  but  what 
there  is  little  fear  I  shall  be  ever  called  on  to  surrender,  —  my  GRATI 
TUDE  and  LOVE  of  LIBERTY. 

The  election  of  a  successor  to  President  Washington 
was  a  subject  of  great  interest  at  that  time.  With  more 
modesty  than  was  exhibited  by  some  foreigners,  who  had 
the  control  of  presses  in  New- York  and  Philadelphia, 
Burk  refrained  from  the  use  of  vulgar  epithets  and  per 
sonalities.  In  his  second  paper  he  said  :  — 

Of  the  election  of  President  we  shall  say  nothing.  We  have  pro 
mised  impartiality  —  we  will  keep  our  word.  From  an  attachment  to 
public  liberty,  we  hope  the  future  President  may  be  as  good  a  repub 
lican  as  Washington.  Never  has  that  venerable  patriot  been  known  to 
utter  a  sentiment  favorable  to  royalty.  The  simile  of  the  sublime  Lon- 
ginus  may  be  applied  to  his  resignation  ;  he  appears  like  the  sun  in  his 
evening  declination ;  though  it  loses  its  splendor,  it  retains  its  magni 
tude,  and  pleases  more  though  it  shines  less. 


296  POLAR    STAR. 

People  of  America !  with  this  great  example  of  genius  and  patriot 
ism  before  your  eyes,  you  will  be  without  excuse  if  you  err.  Let  the 
man  of  your  choice  be  a  man  of  talent,  information,  integrity,  and  re 
publican  modesty ;  a  lover  not  only  of  your  constitution  but  of  liberty 
in  general.  He  ought  to  be  a  friend  of  the  revolutions  of  Holland  and 
of  France ;  he  ought  to  be  a  hater  of  monarchy,  not  only  on  account 
of  the  danger,  but  the  absurdity  of  it ;  he  ought  not  to  be  willing  to 
divide  the  people  by  any  distinctions.  Americans  should  have  but  one 
denomination,  —  THE  PEOPLE. 

Burk's  feelings  were  naturally  strong  against  the  Brit 
ish  government,  and  perhaps  almost  as  naturally  in  favor 
of  France.  "  FRANCE  (he  said)  goes  on  in  the  unin 
terrupted  career  of  victory.  On  one  side  she  is  em 
ployed  in  regenerating  the  degenerate  sons  of  the  old 
Romans.  In  Germany  she  trails  the  Austrian  eagle  in 
the  dust,  while  the  eye  of  the  Directory,  like  that  of 
Alexander,  is  thrown  with  anxiety  for  worlds  to  con 
quer.  ENGLAND,  under  the  iron  sway  of  a  profligate 
administration,  exhibits  the  melancholy  example  to  na 
tions  of  the  dangers  resulting  from  the  too  great  security 
in  the  people.  She  fights  like  a  desperate  gamester, 
doubling  stakes  as  she  loses.  The  game  is  almost  run. 
The  people  are  generous,  brave,  honest,  and  unsuspect 
ing  ;  when  they  open  their  eyes,  the  delusion  vanishes." 

Burk's  impartiality,  —  at  least  so  far  as  foreign  politics 
were  involved  in  controversy,  —  is  fairly  illustrated  by 
what  follows  :  — 

The  republic  of  America  was  scarcely  ever  placed  in  so  critical  a 
political  situation  as  at  this  moment  —  her  commerce  on  one  side 
invaded  by  a  Machiavelian  government,  which  in  defiance  of  the  most 
solemn  treaties,  continues  to  take  their  vessels  and  impress  their  sea 
men  ;  —  on  the  other  side,  menaced  by  a  people,  who,  from  the  nature 
of  their  government,  ought  to  be,  and  we  hope  still  are,  the  friends  of 
America,  but  who  conceive  themselves  injured  and  insulted  by  the 
treaty  with  England ;  we  hope  and  believe  that  the  men,  who  voted  for 
and  against  this  treaty,  are  alike  friendly  to  the  constitution  of  Amer- 


JOHN    BURK.  297 

ica  and  the  liberties  of  mankind  5  and  we  abhor  that  gloomy  and  mo 
nastic  system  of  politics,  which  condemns  to  the  Inquisition  and  Bastile 
those,  who  happen  to  differ  in  opinion.  The  Polar  Star,  like  a  stern 
and  impartial  tribunal  of  criticism,  shall  be  open  to  the  reasoning  on 
both  sides ;  but  it  will  hear  only  REASONING.  It  will  curb  the  spirit  of 
faction ;  silence  the  clamors  of  revenge ;  and  heal  the  wounds  of  the 
unfortunate,  who  have  been,  or  shall  be,  under  the  delusion  of  error. 

In  the  paper  succeeding  that,  in  which  the  preceding 
extract  appeared,  after  half  a  column  of  prudent  and 
judicious  remarks,  upon  the  neutrality  and  impartiality  of 
the  Star,  he  says,  "  Two  compositions  were  sent  to  the 
office  for  insertion  :  the  one  '  A  FEDERALIST,'  the  other 
a  'PATRIOT  OF  '76.'  Both  were  party  pieces.  Both 
were  violent.  We  excluded  both."  He  states  that  the 
authors  took  umbrage  at  the  neglect,  and  sent  impudent 
letters,  one  calling  him  a  royalist  and  the  other  a  Jacobin. 
He  says,  —  "Both  lie.  One  threatens  to  attack  the 
editor  in  the  Chronicle :  the  other  means  he  shall  be 
banded  about  in  the  Centinel.  .  .  .  We  probably  have 
done  them  a  service  by  refusing  them  a  place  in  our 
paper,  as  they  were  grossly  and  shamefully  deficient  in 
orthography,  etymology,  syntax,  and  prosody.  Their 
behavior  appears  to  us  the  surest  proof  of  the  Star's 
impartiality." 

In  some  of  the  early  numbers  of  the  Star,  Burk  pub 
lished  an  account  of  his  trial  and  defence  before  the 
Board  of  the  University  of  Dublin,  on  a  charge  of 
Deism  and  Republicanism.  The  writings,  which  were 
the  cause  of  this  charge,  were  published  in  the  Dublin 
Evening  Post,  a  paper  of  great  reputation,  which  strongly 
advocated  the  cause  of  the  People  against  the  Crown. 
The  agents  of  the  government  discovered  that  he  was 
the  author  of  the  pieces,  and  used  their  influence  with 


298  POLAR    STAR. 

the  Board  to  remove  him  from  the  university,  and  he 
was,  consequently,  expelled. 

The  Polar  Star  and  its  editor  were  not  treated  with 
any  superfluous  degree  of  courtesy  by  their  Boston 
cotemporaries.  Whether  this  was  owing  to  jealousy  of 
its  engrossing  the  public  favor,  or  dislike  to  the  intrusion 
of  a  foreigner  into  the  pale  of  American  editorship,  — 
or  from  some  other  cause,  is  not  known.  From  some  of 
its  editorials,  it  appears  that  it  was  attacked  by  the 
Chronicle,  Centinel,  and  Mercury.  In  the  course  of  a 
few  weeks  the  editor  published  several  articles,  addressed 
"  To  the  editors  of  the  several  newspapers  in  Boston," 
concerning  "  the  vices  that  existed  in  newspaper  estab 
lishments."  He  said  "  the  period  of  election  is  ushered 
in  by  bickerings,  by  personalities,  by  squabbles  and 
scurrilities,  by  feuds,  by  heart-burnings  and  heart-scald- 
ings,  by  animosity,  by  contentions  and  quarrels,  which 
reflect  a  disgrace  on  the  amiable  character  of  Liberty, 
and  are  unworthy  the  literary  advocates  of  a  free  peo 
ple."  Perhaps  his  neighbors  did  not  relish  this  rebuke 
(doubtless  a  very  wholesome  one)  from  one,  who  had 
just  left  his  native  country  to  escape  the  consequences 
of  too  much  freedom  of  speech.  There  is  nothing, 
however,  in  the  editorial  columns  of  the  Star,  which  mer 
its  a  similar  rebuke. 

Like  many  other  editors,  —  some  not  unknown  at  the 
present  day,  —  the  publishers  of  the  Star  boasted,  fre 
quently,  of  the  great  amount  of  public  patronage  be 
stowed  on  their  labors.  This  may,  some  times,  be  a 
successful  finesse  to  procure  support,  but  it  is  rather  a 
dangerous,  and  hardly  an  honorable,  experiment.  The 
Star  of  October  25  said,  —  "  The  Polar  Star  has  gained 


JOHN    BURK.  299 

by  its  impartiality,  in  fourteen  days,  two  hundred  and 
thirteen  new  subscribers.  It  has  lost  two,  because  it 
supported  the  federal  constitution,  and  did  not  rave  in 
favor  of  the  ridiculous  and  absurd  establishments  of  roy 
alty  and  aristocracy ;  and  it  has  lost  one,  because,  to 
use  the  philosopher's  own  elegant  language,  it  is  a  milk- 
and-water  paper,  wants  tone,  and  does  not  flatter  one 
party  more  than  the  other.  Majority  for  the  Star  two 
hundred  and  ten."  In  another  paragraph  it  is  said,  — 
"  A  great  philosopher,  who  inherits  the  science  of  New 
ton,  the  humanity  of  Rousseau,  and  the  reasoning  powers 
of  Locke,  was  asked  by  a  gentleman  to  subscribe  for  the 
Star,  and  refused,  because  the  editor  was  an  Irishman" 

Burk  was  evidently  chagrined  at  the  silence  of  the 
Boston  press  in  regard  to  him  and  his  paper.  Two 
months  after  its  first  appearance,  he  said,  —  "  Whenever 
a  new  paper  makes  its  appearance  in  Europe,  the  estab 
lished  papers  make  honorable  mention  of  their  infant 
brother.  They  have  at  least  the  liberality  to  say,  Such 
a  paper  made  its  appearance  on  such  a  day,  of  such  a 
month,  of  such  a  year.  But  the  sublime  sages  and  pol 
iticians  who  compile  the  Boston  papers,  scorn  to  imitate 
such  vulgar  liberality  ;  they  preserve  the  most  profound 
and  edifying  silence  on  such  occasions.  If  the  parents 
of  the  Star  had  not  been  careful  to  register  its  birth  reg 
ularly,  and  according  to  the  rules  of  the  church,  in  the 
Temple  of  Liberty,  before  its  godfathers  and  mothers, 
the  people,  it  might  have  died,  and  its  existence  been 
forgotten,  before  these  statesmen  would  have  deigned  to 
notice  the  existence  of  such  a  reptile." 

Encouraged  by  prospects  of  success,  and,  probably, 
by  promises  of  assistance,  the  proprietors  of  the  Star 


300  POLAR    STAR. 

proposed  to  publish  a  semi-weekly  paper,  in  connec 
tion  with  their  daily  publication,  to  be  entitled  "  The 
Columbian  Citizen  ;  a  Gazette  for  the  Continent," 
but  the  project  was  never  executed.  Notwithstand 
ing  all  their  self-congratulations,  and  assurances  to 
the  public  of  gratitude  for  unprecedented  favor,  they 
were  obliged  to  call  upon  their  subscribers  for  a  fulfill 
ment  of  the  conditions  of  subscription,  in  order  to  ena 
ble  them  to  keep  the  Star  above  the  horizon.  But  all 
was  ineffectual.  I  cannot  tell  the  exact  date  of  its  set 
ting  •  but  the  date  of  the  last  I  have  seen  is  February 
2,  1797.  If  this  was  not  the  last  number,  the  publica 
tion  was  discontinued  in  a  short  time  after,  and  Martin, 
the  printer  of  it,  was  engaged  in  the  printing  of  another 
newspaper  in  Philadelphia. 

While  in  Boston,  Burk  wrote  a  tragedy,  called  "  The 
Battle  of  Bunker-Hill,  or  the  Death  of  General  War 
ren,"  which  was  performed  a  number  of  times  at  the 
Hay  market  theatre.  For  many  years  the  managers  of 
the  Boston  theatre  used  to  bring  it  forward  on  special 
occasions,  to  gratify  the  patriotism  of  the  pit  and  gal 
lery.  The  tragedy  had  not  a  particle  of  merit,  except 
its  brevity.  It  was  written  in  blank  verse,  if  a  composi 
tion  having  no  attribute  of  poetry  could  be  so  called. 
It  was  as  destitute  of  plot  and  distinctness  of  character 
as  it  was  of  all  claim  to  poetry.  Burk,  afterward,  was 
the  editor  of  a  political  paper,  in  New- York,  called 
"  The  Time-Piece,"  and  was  arrested  on  a  charge  of 
publishing  a  libel,  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  the 
"Sedition  Law"  of  1798.  The  issue  of  the  affair  I 
never  knew.  About  the  year  1800,  it  was  reported  that 
he  was  killed  in  a  duel  in  one  of  the  southern  states. 


FEDERAL  GAZETTE 

AND 

DAILY    ADVERTISER. 


ON  the  first  day  of  January,  1798,  Caleb  P.  Wayne 
issued  the  first  number  of  a  daily  paper,  in  Boston.  In 
his  opening  address  to  the  public  he  referred  to  the  title 
as  announcing  the  character  of  his  politics  —  "  FEDERAL, 
by  which  he  meant  highly  favorable  to  our  present  excel 
lent  constitution,  and  to  its  administration."  His  sen 
timents  were  more  definitely  described  in  another  para 
graph  :  — 

As  the  editor  is  an  American,  he  shall  avoid  as  much  as  possible  all 
partiality  towards  any  foreign  nation ;  and  shall  speak  favorably  or  un 
favorably  of  each,  in  proportion  to  the  injuries  of  which  it  may  be 
guilty,  or  the  good  faith  it  may  observe,  towards  his  own  country.  No 
private  scandal  or  defamation  will  ever  find  a  place  in  his  paper;  but 
public  men  and  public  measures,  he  conceives,  are  fair  subjects  of  pub 
lic  animadversion.  Jacobinical  principles  he  detests,  and  shall  omit  no 
opportunity  of  exposing  their  dangerous  tendency,  though  he  shall  not 
soil  his  page  with  illiberal  censure  on  the  individuals  who  propagate 
them,  as  long  as  they  keep  within  the  bounds  of  decorum  and  personal 
respect ;  but  he  will  not  pledge  himself  always  to  treat  with  tenderness 
the  notorious  revilers  of  our  government  and  its  officers.  This  is  the 
only  impartiality  which  the  editor  professes,  and  these  are  the  only  sen 
timents  he  thinks  a  real  American  should  entertain. 

In  the  second  number  of  the  paper  is  a  note  express 
ing  the  editor's  pleasure,  that  the  decisive  and  candid 
26 


302  FEDERAL    GAZETTE. 

manner,  in  which  he  had  announced  his  principles,  had 
met  with  general  approbation  ;  and  that  but  one  sub 
scriber  had  deemed  his  address  as  unpardonably  offen 
sive,  and  withdrawn  his  name  as  a  subscriber.  He  adds, 
"  If  to  express  a  detestation  of  Jacobinism,  and  a  sin 
cere  love  and  admiration  of  our  country,  its  constitution 
and  administration  thereof,  be  considered  as  '  unpardon- 
ably  offensive,'  we  shall  with  pleasure  erase  the  name  of 
those  who  may  wish  to  c  go  to  the  Chronicle,'  and  there 
obtain  as  much  of  Jacobinism  and  subterfuge  as  they 
may  wish  for." 

The  editorials  of  this  paper  were  not  written  in  a 
much  more  scholarly  style  than  those  of  the  other  Bos 
ton  papers.  They  were  generally  short,  but  spicy  and 
ill-natured.  In  following  out  to  their  utmost  length  the 
principles  announced  in  his  opening  address,  the  editor 
was  not  sparing  of  reproof  to  any  of  his  own  party,  if 
he  found  one  in  the  slightest  degree  timid  or  wavering. 
He  availed  himself  of  an  occasion  to  abuse  Mr.  Rus 
sell  of  the  Centinel  (whose  attachment  to  the  Federal 
Administration  was  undisputed)  in  the  following  style  :  — 


Having  read  the  remarks  in  yesterday's  Centinel,  respecting  our 
Ministers,  France,  &c.  we  declare  them  such  as  should  make  the  Editor 
of  that  paper  (allowing  him  to  be  a  true  American)  blush  with  shame. 
The  language  of  imbecility  in  a  mealy-mouthed  tone,  is  not  such  as  at 
this  period  should  issue  from  a  Federal  press.  Firmness  alone  will  re 
press  audacity.  The  Editor  of  the  Centinel  says  —  "  IF  the  French 
Directory  has  forgot  the  dignity  which  is  attached  to  a  sovereign  and 
independent  State,"  &c.  "  IF  !  "  a  good  one,  truly  !  Why  does  the 
Editor  of  the  Centinel  query,  with  his  "  IFS  "  and  "  ands  !  "  Is  he 
turning  into  a  Jacobin,  forgot  he  was  a  Federalist,  or  was  he  ...  crazy  ? 
He  knows,  and  for  certain,  or  he  certainly  ought  to  know,  that  the 
French  "  Powers  that  be  "  HAVE  forgot  the  respect  due  to  the  United 
States,  as  a  sovereign  and  independent  nation  :  The  insult  offered  the 
United  States  through  our  Ministers  only  is  sufficient  to  do  away  all 


CALEB    P.    WAYNE.  303 

"  Ifs  &  ands "  in  the  opinion  of  every  one  but  the  Jacobins.  But  the 
editor  of  the  Centinel  "  is  a  delicate  fellow,  says  Tom  Bolin,"  and  like 
the  Jacobins  always  glosses  over  insult  offered  the  United  States  with 
an  "IF,"  &c.  Real  Federalists  will  never  use  such  milk-and-water 
queries  as  does  the  Editor  of  the  Centinel;  — when  their  nation  or  gov 
ernment  IS  insulted,  true  Americans  will  never  sneak-in-the-corner, 
nor  be  afraid  to  proclaim  that  justice  demands  reparation  for  the  insult 
in  other  places  than  "up  the  chimney" — any  thing  the  IF  Editor  of 
the  Centinel  says  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  —  The  comparison, 
drawn  by  the  Editor  of  the  Centinel,  between  the  treaties  negociated  by 
France  with  Spain,  and  between  the  United  States  and  Great-Britain, 
is  rank  Chronicle  Jacobinism  —  as  he  plainly  insinuates  much  against 
our  treaty  with  Great-Britain  as  it  affects  France  —  and  says,  "7/1"  the 
Directory  of  France  will  break  their  treaty  with  Spain,  it  is  not  to  be 
doubted  that  their  example  would  go  further  than  their  precept !  Inti 
mating  as  if  France  will  break  her  most  solemn  and  sacred  obligation 
with  Spain,  that  the  United  States  will  follow  their  example  and  break 
with  England !  An  insinuation  more  degrading  to  the  spirit  of  true 
Americans,  more  encouraging  to  the  French  faction,  than  all  the  dolt- 
isms  and  falsehoods  that  as  yet  have  issued  from  the  French  presses, 
the  Chronicle,  the  Aurora,  the  Argus,  &c. 

Having  given  a  specimen  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
Editor  of  the  Gazette  behaved  towards  his  cotempora- 
ries  of  the  federal  school,  when  they  did  not  rise  to  his 
standard  in  the  political  thermometer,  let  us  see  how  he 
treated  his  opponents  :  — 

Newspaper  War  ! 
THE  FEDERAL  GAZETTE. 

vs. 

Bache's  AURORA,  Carey's  RECORDER,  HolCs  BEE,  Pierces  ORACLE,  $-c. 
The  Editor  asks  pardon  of  his  readers  for  devoting  a  part  of  the 
Federal  Gazette  to  the  business  of  warfare  —  he  loves  peace  as  sincerely 
as  they  do  —  yet  when  repeatedly  attacked  by  the  papers  of  sedition  it 
might  be  a  crime  to  let  them  always  pass  unnoticed.  He  expected  that 
the  candid  politics  of  the  Federal  Gazette  would  arouse  the  minions  of 
sedition,  from  North  to  South ;  and  make  them  desperate  in  their  en 
deavors  to  crush  it  —  he  is  not  surprized  at  the  many  attempts  of  the 
Jacobins,  to  injure  the  circulation  of  a  paper  tending  to  expose  their 
party  to  merited  contempt ;  but  it  is  astonishing  that  printers,  profess- 


304  FEDERAL    GAZETTE. 

ing  themselves  federal,  should  unite  with  a  certain  vehicle  of  sedition  in 
this  town  to  pi-event  it  being  universally  read  —  he  shall  make  no  com 
ments  on  such  conduct  —  but  proceed  — 

Among  the  first  of  his  opponents,  ranks  the  notorious  Jacobin 

BACHE, 

Editor  of  the  Aurora,  Printer  to  the  French  Directory,  Distributor 
General  of  the  principles  of  insurrection,  anarchy,  and  confusion  —  the 
greatest  fool,  and  most  stubborn  Sans  Culotte  in  the  United  States. 
He  attacks  the  Federal  Gazette's  elegance  of  diction,  a  thing  that  he 
knows  as  much  about  as  Li/on  does  of  common  decency,  and  which  his 
paper  is  as  destitute  of  as  the  Boston  Chronicle  is  of  truth.  No  sooner 
had  this  Chief  of  Anarchy  given  the  signal  for  attack,  by  a  discharge 
from  his  feathered  cannon,  than  to  work  went  all  his  understrappers  in 
the  different  parts  of  the  United  States. 

Next  appears  the  insipid  and  detestable  Editor  of  the  Recorder, 

O'CAKEY, 

who  so  generously  supplies  all  the  pastry-cooks  in  Philadelphia  with 
his  paper  gratis,  for  their  various  uses ;  a  general  pedler  in  French  argu 
ments  ;  and  who,  after  having  been  four  or  five  times  sent  to  oblivion, 
has  lately  been  permitted  by  the  Devil  to  come  forth  again  and  wage 
war  with  virtue  and  order.  His  attacks,  however,  are  but  second  edi 
tions  of  Bache's  —  with  this  exception,  that  they  are,  if  possible,  still 
more  pitiful.  0J  Carey  is  at  a  loss  to  know,  what  can  be  meant  by  the 
term,  "  milk  of  human  kindness."  So  destitute  is  his  soul  of  sensibility 
and  virtue !  After  the  above,  follows  one 

HOLT, 

of  New-London,  Editor  of  a  little  vehicle  of  sedition,  called  the  BEE  — 
for  which  he  will  accept  "pay  in  any  thing."  This  fellow's  words  are  — 
"  Peter  Skunk  has  gained  an  ally,  and  Federalism  another  prop,  in  the 
Federal  Gazette  published  at  Boston  by  one  Wayne : "  and  then  asserts 
that  Cobbet  has  no  friends  left  except  Fenno,  the  aforesaid  Wayne,  and 
Dennie,  the  erudite  Walpole  Fire-brand."  Mark,  reader  —  First  he 
asserts  that  Peter  has  gained  an  ally  and  Federalism  a  prop,  and  in  the 
same  breath  says,  Peter,  and  consequently,  Federalism,  has  no  friends 
left,  but  Fenno,  Dennie,  and  Wayne  —  this  is  equal  to  the  Irish  General 
who  told  his  men  they  advanced  one  step  backward  I  Notwithstanding 
he  "  takes  pay  in  any  thing "  he  cannot  obtain  even  the  praise  of  one 
Jacobin,  nor  the  subscription  of  the  "  meanest  hostler "  —  an  incontro 
vertible  truth  this,  that  Connecticut  is  not  the  democratic  state  repre 
sented  by  M.  Lyon,  any  thing  he  or  Holt  says  to  the  contrary.  He 
called  his  paper  the  Bee,  very  properly,  but  he  ought  to  have  told  what 
kind  of  a  bee,  as  it  is  evidently  one  of  those  called  Drones,  that  are  as 


CALEB    P.    WAYNE.  305 

devoid  of  any  sting  as  Holt  is  of  common  sense,  and  who  live  on  the 
sweets  of  society,  without  adding  to  the  common  stock,  and  are  always 
kicked  out  of  the  hive  for  stupidity ;  which  fate  he  richly  deserves.  He 
concludes  with  advising  Mr,  Bowen  to  get  the  skin  of  the  Editor 
together  with  Peter  Porcupine,  and  have  them  stuffed,  and  placed  in  the 
museum,  and  no  doubt  this  would  be  as  gratifying  to  this  Sans  Culotte 
as  the  sight  of  the  guillotine  reeking  with  blood  is  to  the  sanguinary 
French  populace.  If  this  Holt  was  placed  in  a  niche  of  some  public 
corner,  he  would  immediately  become  the  reservoir  for  all  kinds  of 
ejection,  and  would  then  be  in  a  very  appropriate  honey-hive. 

Next,  with  majestic  stride,  appears  a  member  of  the  new  order  of 
Jacobin  Chivalry,  arrayed  with  the  Wooden  Sword  and  other  insignia, 

CHARLES  PIERCE, 

the  irredoubtable  Editor  of  the  Portsmouth  Oracle.  The  readers  of  the 
Federal  Gazette  will  recollect  that  some  time  ago  this  Pierce  was  men 
tioned  as  having  refused  to  publish  Scipio  —  Instead  of  justifying  him 
self,  he  has  prated  chiefly  about  the  term  we,  which  the  Editor  uses 
instead  of  the  singular  /;  a  practice  almost  universally  adopted  by 
Editors  of  newspapers,  and  which  he  himself  uses.  Pierce  the  Sans 
Culotte  being  now  compelled  to  publish  the  numbers  of  "  FEDERAL  SCIP 
IO,"  has  (to  keep  back  the  real  truth  from  being  known)  asserted  that  he 
has  published  them  to  evince  his  impartiality  !  What  his  Jacobin  friends 
will  think  of  his  inconsistency,  of  his  deviation  from  their  party,  is, 
probably,  that  he  is  a  mere  dish-water-fop,  unworthy  the  confidence  of 
any  party. 

Mr.  Pierce  tells  his  readers  that  he  is  ignorant  of  the  meaning  of  the 
word  Jacobin.  Poor  man!  why  did  he  not  consult  the  "Book  of 
Knowledge  "  he  printed  some  time  ago  ?  he  has,  to  exculpate  himself 
from  the  charge  of  Jacobinism  asserted,  (or  a  writer  has  asserted  for 
him)  that  "the  tenor  of  his  life  has  been  neither  base,  wicked,  nor  nefa 
rious,"  and  that  "  he  keeps  his  stone  steps  free  from  ice  !  consequently, 
he  cannot  be  a  Jacobin."  Well  said,  most  grave  Sir  diaries  !  But  all 
this  whining  will  not  convince  your  readers  of  your  impartiality  —  no, 
no,  Mi*.  Pierce,  while  whole  columns  are  inserted  from  the  Aurora,  Ar 
gus,  and  Chronicle,  together  with  the  piece  signed  VERITAS,  (an  infa 
mous  Jacobin  as  ever  lived,  and  whom  I  strongly  suspect  to  have  written 
the  card  for  you,  addressed  to  me)  are  admitted  with  alacrity  —  and 
pieces  in  justification  of  our  government  are  placed  in  the  back  ground 
as  your  friend  Monroe  wished  to  place  the  United  States  with  respect  to 
foreign  countries,  not  one  of  your  patrons  (unless  they  are  as  desti 
tute  of  candor  as  you  are  of  sense)  will  believe  you. 
26* 


306  FEDERAL    GAZETTE. 

But  Charley  seems  to  have  been  seized  with  the  horrors,  the  natural 
consequence  of  a  guilty  mind,  as  he  begs  to  be  excused  from  my  "  s/iau- 
ing  hand,"  dreading  a  "federal  cut  throat "  no  less  than  a  "  Satis  Oulotte 
yuillotinist "  /  /  Leave  off  this  whining,  supplicating  cant ;  gird  on  your 
wooden  sword  and  other  insignia  of  your  order,  Pierce  —  call  VERITAS 
and  all  your  Sans  Culotte  friends  to  your  assistance ;  for  be  assured 
that  all  your  begging  will  have  no  effect.  You  shall  not  be  freed  from 
the  lash  of  Truth  and  Federalism,  until  you  prove  by  your  actions  that 
you  are  a  virtuous  man  and  no  Jacobin.  If  you  have  one  grain  of 
candor  within  you,  an  idea  of  justice,  or  the  most  trivial  pretensions  to 
what  you  profess,  give  this  a  place  in  your  paper ;  if  you  do  not,  every 
man  will  despise  you  no  less  than  I  do  your  infamous  political  tenets. 

Such  was  the  style  of  the  political  war  documents  of 
1798. 

The  articles  here  alluded  to,  signed  "  Scipio,"  were 
first  published  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  United  States  Ga 
zette.  They  were  entitled  "  Reflections  on  Mr.  Mon 
roe's  View  of  the  conduct  of  the  Executive  on  the  for 
eign  affairs  of  the  United  States,  connected  with  the 
mission  of  the  French  Republic,  during  the  years  1794, 
5,  6."  They  extended  to  ten  or  more  numbers,  and 
were  republished  in  the  Federal  Gazette. 

At  the  end  of  three  months  from  the  commencement 
of  his  paper,  Wayne  found  himself  under  the  necessity 
of  abandoning  the  experiment  of  a  daily  publication, 
"  for  want  of  sufficient  encouragement."  Unwilling,  as 
he  says,  "  to  desert  a  cause  in  which  he  felt  himself 
warmly  interested,"  he  continued  to  publish,  twice  a 
week,  on  Mondays  and  Thursdays,  for  one  month  longer, 
when  the  publication  was  discontinued. 

The  failure  of  this  enterprize  could  hardly  have  been 
avoided.  The  income  from  advertising  customers  was 
small,  and  could  not  have  been  worth  naming,  in  com 
parison  with  the  necessary  cost  of  a  daily  publication. 


CALEB    P.    WAYNE.  307 

The  original  communications  were  not  numerous,  arid 
what  few  there  were,  were  chiefly  on  the  politics  of  the 
day,  —  subjects  on  which  the  editor  himself  exhausted  all 
his  powers.  Most  of  his  paragraphs  are  similar  in  style 
and  temper  to  the  specimens  already  given.  The  paper 
was  apparently  conducted  with  industry ;  but  industry 
without  judgement  is  not  all,  that  is  required  to  render  a 
daily  paper  worthy  of  extensive  support. 

Wayne  came  to  Boston  from  Philadelphia,  and  re 
turned  to  that  city  soon  after  the  discontinuance  of  the 
Federal  Gazette. 


THE  CONSTITUTIONAL  TELEGRAPHE. 


THE  first  number  of  this  paper  was  published  in  Bos 
ton,  October  2,  1799,  by  SAMUEL  S.  PARKER.  Com 
mon  rumor  said  that  the  editor  was  instigated  to  the 
enterprize  by  a  belief  that  the  Chronicle  did  not  quite 
satisfy  the  wishes  and  expectations  of  some  of  the  most 
ultra  of  the  republican  party.  The  editor  himself,  in 
his  salutatory,  gave  some  reason  to  suppose  that  such  a 
cause  might  have  existed.  He  said,  —  "  Exclusive  of 
the  common  motive,  by  which  every  effort  of  industry  is 
stimulated,  the  editor  is  induced  to  believe  that  a  new 
paper,  in  this  town,  would  be  cheerfully  received  and 
zealously  patronized  by  those  federal  Republicans,  who 
constitute  the  great  mass  of  real  American  citizens,  men 
attached  to  no  faction,  who  prefer  the  interests  of  their 
own  to  those  of  any  other  country  ;  who  comprehend 
and  revere  the  principles  of  civil  liberty,  as  recorded 
and  established  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and 
in  the  constitutions  of  the  states  and  federal  government ; 
who  will  support  these  illustrious  monuments  of  the 
American  revolution  with  their  fortunes  and  their  lives  ; 
who,  to  a  just  sense  of  their  obligations  to  maintain  these 
institutions  and  the  laws  of  the  land,  made  in  pursuance 
of  them,  unite  a  belief  that  "  the  liberty  of  the  press  is 
essential  to  the  security  of  freedom  in  a  state ; "  &c. 


SAMUEL    S.    PARKER.  309 

It  was  a  semi-weekly  paper,  published  on  Wednesday 
and  Saturday. 

The  editor  was  aided  by  several  writers,  but  none  of 
surpassing  excellence.  "  Democritus  "  wrote  a  series  of 
essays,  —  one  on  the  duties  of  a  republican  editor,  in 
which  there  seems  to  be  a  sly  hit  at  some  of  those  of  its 
own  party :  and  others  on  "  American  Aristocracy." 
This  writer  had  been  a  correspondent  of  the  Chronicle, 
but  had  been  silent  for  a  time.  His  reappearance  was 
greeted  with  great  enthusiasm  by  other  writers,  in  the 
Telegraphe.  Another  series  of  communications  were 
entitled  "  Standing  Army,"  by  "  A  friend  to  the  Presi 
dent." 

The  editor  appears  to  have  been  indebted  mainly  to 
correspondents  for  original  matter.  The  paper  con 
tains  nothing  of  his  composition,  but  short  summaries  of 
news,  with  an  occasional  attack  upon  some  cotemporary 
federal  paper.  The  Aurora,  the  Chronicle,  and  other 
leading  republican  papers,  are  liberally  drawn  upon 
for  political  discussion.  Both  editor  and  correspondents 
opposed,  with  all  their  power,  the  election  of  Caleb 
Strong  to  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  commonwealth  in 
the  spring  of  1800.  Their  whole  artillery  of  satire  and 
abuse  was  discharged  at  Alexander  Hamilton, — who 
visited  Boston  in  June,  1800,  —  and  those,  who  showed 
him  any  marks  of  respect. 

Parker  was  a  physician  in  the  county  of  Worcester, 
and,  I  believe,  resided  there  most  of  the  time  while  the 
Telegraphe  was  published  in  his  name.  That  name  dis 
appeared  from  the  imprint  on  the  tenth  of  July,  1800. 
Previously  no  printer's  name  had  been  attached  to  it. 
The  paper  of  that  day  purports  to  be  printed  "  by  JON- 


310  CONSTITUTIONAL     TELEGRAPHS. 

ATHAN  S.  COPP,  for  the  proprietor,  at  his  printing-office, 
south  side  State-street."  The  typography  and  mechan 
ical  execution  were  miserable  specimens  of  mechanic 
art.  While  the  Telegraphe  appeared  with  Copp's  name 
as  publisher,  there  was  much  more  of  what  may  be 
called  editorial  matter,  than  at  first ;  from  which  it  may 
be  inferred  that  he  filled  the  office  of  editor  as  well  as 
printer.  He  was  a  native  of  New-London,  and  though 
he  served  his  apprenticeship  with  a  decided  federal 
printer,  he  was  a  bitter  reviler  of  every  thing  that  had 
the  odor  of  federalism. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  volume,  September  27,  1800, 
Parker  gave  notice  that  he  had  "  sold  out  his  proprie 
torship  "  to  JOHN  S.  LILLIE,  "  who  had  agreed  to  carry 
it  on  in  support  of  the  republican  interest,  for  which  it 
was  sincerely  instituted."  He  added,  —  "When  the 
proposal  for  printing  the  Telegraphe  was  offered  to  the 
public,  the  proprietor  conceived  there  was  not  a  repub 
lican  paper  printed  in  this  commonwealth ;  which  was 
one  principal  occasion  of  his  coming  forward,  to  en 
deavor  to  advocate  and  defend  the  constituted  RIGHTS 
of  his  fellow-citizens,  which  was  ever  dear  and  precious 
to  him  ;  but  finding  his  domestic  circumstances  and  avo 
cations  such,  that  he  could  not  pay  that  personal  atten 
tion  to  the  office,  which  the  nature  of  the  business 
required,  he  thought  best  to  sell  out  to  some  person, 
that  would  pay  more  particular  attention  to  it  than  was 
practical  for  him  to  do." 

The  following  are  specimens  of  Doctor  Parker's  par 
agraph  writing  :  — 

The  Centinel  of  Wednesday  last  says,  that  in  two  hundred  papers 
published  in  the  United  States,  only  twenty  are  Jacobin :  (but  mark, 


SAMUEL     S.    PARKER.  311 

Americans !  Jacobin  and  republican  are  synonymous  terms  with  the 
federal  tones*)  That  only  twenty  republican  newspapers  are  published 
in  the  Union,  is  "  a  shameless  and  insolent  lie ; "  the  fact  is,  more  than 
that  number  have  been  established  in  the  short  period  of  the  last  six 
months,  and  at  least  fifty  decidedly  republican  papers  since  the  GAG 
bill,  &c.  have  been  in  force,  any  thing  which  Ben  Russell  may  say  to 
the  contrary  notwithstanding.  That  falsehood  arid  deception  have  long 
been  conspicuous  traits  in  the  character  of  the  knowing  editor  of  the 
Centinel,  we  will  not  at  present  spend  time  to  demonstrate. 

December  21,  1799. 

Ben  Russell's  remarks  on  that  independent  and  republican  member 
of  Congress,  Mr.  Randolph,  are  so  smutty  and  black,  as  to  be  even 
below  contempt ;  issuing  from  a  polluted  fountain,  which  is  continually 
casting  up  mire  and  dirt,  they  would,  of  course,  have  been  unworthy 
our  attention,  did  we  not  conceive  it  a  duty,  sometimes,  to  expose  to 
the  view  of  our  republican  fellow-citizens,  this  paragon  of  Billingsgate, 
this  pretended  advocate  of  "  Washington  federalism."  Instead  of 
coming  forward  and  endeavoring  to  confute  the  arguments  of  Mr. 
Randolph  against  the  standing  army,  this  cowardly  assassin  contempt 
uously  calls  him  a  "  smock-faced  youth,"  "  master  Randolph,"  and 
describes  him  as  certainly  "  black."  This  is  argument !  This  is  the 
dernier  resort  of  aristocratic  federalism,  of  our  pretended  friends  of 
good  order  and  energetic  government.  This  is  conclusive  reasoning ; 
it  is  emphatically  federal  logic.  February  8,  1800. 

It  is  suspected  that  the  Charlestown  Granny  had  two  projects  in 
view  when  he  undertook  his  late  journey  to  Philadelphia.  The  osten 
sible  and  public  object  was  said  [to  be]  to  use  his  influence  to  have  the 
Dock  Yard  established  at  Charlestown.  The  other  object  is  said  to  be 
the  appointment  of  himself  by  Bushrod  Washington  to  be  the  writer  of 
George  Washington's  Life.  Joe  Dennie,  who  is  paid  for  writing  in 
Fenno's  Gazette,  has  let  the  "  Pig  out  of  the  bag."  He  says  that  the 
Doctor  applied  to  Bushrod  Washington  for  the  papers  and  the  job, 
but  was  refused  both.  The  remarks  by  Dennie  are  rather  severe,  par 
ticularly  as  the  Doctor  has  declared  himself  of  the  same  politics  and 

sentiments  as  Joe The  Doctor  is  a  most  extraordinary  man ; 

his  wisdom  is  a  compound  sublimation  of  illuminati  plots,  Ocean  plots, 
Tub  plots.  Taylor  plots,  Pig's  feet,  ears,  and  tail  plots ;  in  short,  he  is 
like  the  word  Hannah,  for  you  may  spell  him  at  each  end,  and  find  him 
out  on  all  sides ;  he  ought  to  obtain  complete  success,  for  his  arduous 
efforts  for  the  public  good;  it  is  infinitely  more  laudable  than  specula 
tions  in  Georgia  Lands.  April  5,  1800. 

Let  these  suffice. 


312  CONSTITUTIONAL    TELEGRAPHE. 

The  Telegraphe  was  seldom,  if  ever,  noticed  in  the 
other  Boston  papers  —  a  fact,  which,  it  is  evident, 
greatly  annoyed  the  editor,  and  he  referred  to  it,  in 
rather  querulous  terms,  more  than  once  ;  but  his  com 
plaints  produced  no  response  from  his  cotemporaries. 

Mr.  Lillie  began  his  editorial  career  with  a  pledge  to 
conduct  the  Telegraphe  on  the  principles  adopted  by 
his  predecessor,  and  a  promise  that  nothing  should  be 
admitted,  in  opposition  to  the  equal  rights  of  man.  The 
political  paragraphs  were  more  numerous,  and  more 
severe  in  their  tone,  and  as  the  presidential  election  soon 
after  terminated  in  favor  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  the  writers  in 
the  Telegraphe  assumed  a  more  triumphant  and  defiant 
style  towards  their  political  opponents. 

In  the  Telegraphe  of  February  18,  1801,  the  editor 
informed  his  readers  that,  "  being  unprepared  to  meet 
the  common  law  of  England,  in  its  full  extent  and  rigor, 
prefers  to  remain  for  a  short  time  incog.  Conscious  of 
his  own  integrity  of  heart,  he  will  not,  (when  prepared) 
shrink  from  a  fair  and  impartial  trial  by  a  jury  of  his 
own  countrymen."  How  long  he  kept  himself  secreted, 
is  not  now  recollected.  His  paper  of  March  31,  1802, 
contains  a  circumstantial  account  of  his  trial  and  the 
cause  of  it,  of  which  the  following  is  an  abstract,  — 
chiefly  in  his  own  language  :  — 

The  editor  of  the  Telegraphe,  to  satisfy  his  numerous  correspondents 
and  the  public,  communicates  the  following  statement  of  facts,  as  it 
respects  his  fine  and  imprisonment,  for  a  libel  on  the  "  Lord  Chief  Jus 
tice  of  the  Common  Law  of  England."  At  the  opening  of  the  Su 
preme  Judicial  Court  in  this  town  in  February  1801,  His  Honor  Judge 
Dana,  after  giving  a  charge  to  the  grand  jury,  in  his  usual  mariner, 
observed  to  them,  that  "  he  had  in  his  hand  a  paper,  called  the  Consti 
tutional  Telegraphe,  in  which  was  contained  the  folloAving  piece,  under 
the  head  of  communications  :  — 


JOHN    S.    LILLIE.  313 

"  A  dirty  piece  appeared  in  the  chaste  Palladium  of  Tuesday,  27th 
ult.  dated  at  Washington,  but  undoubtedly  fabricated  here,  either  by 
the  illuminati  Doctor,  one  of  the  pious  editors,  or  the  Lord  Chief  Jus 
tice  of  the  common  law  of  England.  The  author  of  the  paragraph 
endeavors  to  blacken  the  character  of  that  great  and  benevolent  man, 
Thomas  Jefferson,  Esq.  whom  the  people  delight  to  honor.  It  likewise 
attempts  to  degrade  Governor  M'Kcan  and  Judge  Brackenridge.  Kow 
know  ye,  that  Gov.  M'Kean,  when  chief  justice  of  the  supreme  court 
in  Pennsylvania,  nor  Judge  Brackenridge,  now  chief  justice  of  that 
state,  never  set  aside  the  verdict,  of  a  jury  of  twelve  honest  men,  upon 
a  promise  of  receiving  one  thousand  acres  of  land  in  the  province  of 
Maine  —  and  endeavored  to  obtain  an  impeachment  of  an  attorney- 
general,  for  disclosing  such  corrupt  conduct.  Know  ye,  therefore,  that 
the  very  lengthy  piece  on  the  first  page  of  said  immaculate  paper,  con 
taining  as  much  matter  as  a  common  law  judge's  charge  to  a  grand 
jury  on  libels,  is  artfully  designed  to  reconcile  the  minds  of  the  citizens 
to  that  execrable  engine  of  tyrants,  the  common  law  of  England,  in 
criminal  prosecutions ;  and  that  they  may  rest  easy  under  it,  and  em 
brace  it  as  their  birth-right.  But,  know  ye,  that  whenever  a  republican 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  convene,  purged  from  those 
locusts  to  society,  aristocratic  lawyers ;  then  this  ten-headed  monster 
will  be  slain,  and  its  remains  sunk  in  the  unfathomable  gulf  of  ever 
lasting  forgetfulness,  and  tyrant  party  judges  will  weep  and  wail,  and 
gnash  their  teeth,  because  their  reign  of  terror  is  at  an  end.  —  such 
tyrants  exclaim  '  hoc  me  mali  habit.'1 " 

Here  his  Honor,  it  is  said,  exclaimed,  very  emphatically,  (at  the  same 
time  pointing  to  himself )  "  That  means  ME,  gentlemen."  .  .  .  This 
libel,  as  it  was  called,  was  handed  to  the  grand  jury,  who,  after  a  long  and 
arduous  struggle,  found  a  bill,  which,  when  the  editor  had  notice  of,  he 
absented  himself,  not  knowing  who  the  author  was,  and  being  unpre 
pared  at  that  time  to  answer  to  its  responsibility,  and  meet  the  ven 
geance  of  the  judiciary,  it  being  in  the  height  of  the  reign  of  terror. 
.  .  .  At  the  opening  of  the  supreme  court  last  August,  the  editor 
was  summoned  to  appear,  and  was  arraigned  before  the  bar,  to  answer 
to  an  indictment  for  the  above  libel,  as  it  is  called.  He  applied  to 
George  Blake,  Esq.  as  his  counsel,  who  plead  in  his  behalf,  guilty  of 
publishing,  and  consequently  threw  himself  upon  the  lenity  of  the 
court.  .  .  .  His  Honor  Judge  Bradbury,  after  making  his  remarks 
on  the  heinousncss  of  the  crime,  observed  that  the  court  would  indulge 
me  till  next  term,  in  order  that  I  might  have  an  opportunity  to  dis 
cover  the  author.  In  the  mean  time,  the  original  manuscript  was 
handed  round  to  different  persons,  who  said  they  could  recognize  it  as 
the  hand-writing  of  John  Vinal,  Esq.  Accordingly,  at  a  meeting  of 
the  grand  jury,  a  complaint  was  entered  against  him,  as  the  author  of 
the  supposed  libel.  The  grand  jury,  after  a  comparison  of  hands, 
were  fully  satisfied  of  Mr.  Vinal  being  the  author,  and  were  unanimous 
in  finding  a  bill  against  him.  This  gentleman  was  therefore  arraigned, 
27 


314  CONSTITUTIONAL    TELEGRAPH E. 

and  plead  not  guilty ;  he  was  tried,  —  and  from  a  comparison  of  hands 
not  being  legal  evidence,  was  acquitted.  The  editor  and  his  friends 
then  expected  that  the  honor  as  well  as  justice  of  the  court  would  be 
satisfied  with  a  severe  reprimand,  for  his  inadvertency,  particularly  at 
the  present  period,  when  false,  malicious  and  scandalous  libels  are  con 
tinually  issuing  from  the  federal  presses  against  the  President  and  gov 
ernment  of  the  United  States  —  instead  of  which,  a  fine  of  one  hun 
dred  dollars,  and  three  months  imprisonment,  was  the  award  of  the 
court.  The  above,  to  the  editor's  best  recollection,  is  a  true  and  faith 
ful  statement  of  the  facts  which  he  cheerfully  submits  for  the  consid 
eration  of  his  friends  and  the  public.  JOHN  S.  LILLIE. 
Boston  Gaol,  March  30, —  13th  day  of  Imprisonment. 

This  article  was  followed  by  another,  acknowledging 
his  obligations  to  friends  and  customers,  and  calling  on 
delinquents  to  settle  their  accounts.  Presuming  that 
the  person  to  whom  he  had  entrusted  the  care  of  the 
Telegraphe,  would  conduct  it  on  the  principles  he  had 
himself  practised,  he  "  relinquished  the  arduous  duties 
which  had  heretofore  devolved  upon  him." 

The  Telegraphe  of  April  14,  came  out  in  the  name  of 
J.  M.  DUNHAM,  as  printer  and  editor.  No  essential 
change  took  place  in  the  character  or  appearance  of  the 
paper,  except,  that,  a  few  weeks  after,  the  title  was 
changed  to  Republican  Gazetteer,  and  was  decorated 
with  a  cut,  representing  Hope  leaning  on  an  anchor, 
holding  in  her  right  hand  a  staff  with  the  cap  of  liberty, 
and  in  her  left,  a  scroll,  bearing  the  word  constitution. 
Underneath  was  the  rnotto,  — 

O  Liberty !  expand  thy  vital  ray ; 
O'er  the  dark  globe  diffuse  celestial  day ; 
Thy  spirit  breathe,  wide  as  creation's  space ; 
Exalt,  illume,  inspire  the  human  race. 

John  S.  Lillie,  after  passing  through  the  usual  course 
of  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Boston,  was 
apprenticed  to  Benjamin  Sweetser,  an  extensive  and 


JOHN    S.    LILLIE.  315 

respectable  dealer  in  English  goods.  For  a  while  he 
kept  an  English  or  dry  goods  store  in  Union  street.  Mr. 
Sweetser,  who,  I  believe,  was  a  relative,  aided  him  in 
the  purchase  of  the  Telegraphe.  After  the  term  of  his 
imprisonment  expired,  he  held  the  office  of  a  clerk  in 
the  United  States  Loan-Office,  and  subsequently  in  the 
United  States  Branch  bank.  He  died  in  1842.  He 
was  an  invincible  disciple  of  the  Jeffersonian  school  of 
politics,  and  endured  the  reproaches  of  his  federal  cotem- 
poraries  with  a  firmness  and  perseverance,  which  his 
most  inveterate  opponents  could  not  but  admire. 

John  Moseley  Dunham,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Lillie  as 
the  publisher  of  the  Telegraphe,  was  a  printer  by  trade. 
He  published  the  Republican  Gazetteer  some  two  or 
three  years,  and  afterward  established  a  manufactory  of 
Printing  Ink  at  Cambridge,  from  which  he  supplied  most 
of  the  Printers  in  New-England.  He  went  to  Ohio, 
after  the  war  of  1812.  His  subsequent  history  is  to  me 
unknown. 

The  editorials  of  the  Telegraphe,  under  its  several 
conductors  were  chiefly  short  paragraphs,  indicating  that 
the  writers  had  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  vocab 
ulary  of  vituperation  and  a  readiness  to  use  it  on  all 
occasions.  Many  of  them  are  mere  squibs  aimed  at  the 
federal  papers  and  their  editors,  variegated  with  fulsome 
epithets  applied  to  the  leaders  of  the  republican  party. 
Mr.  Jefferson  was  seldom  referred  to  but  in  terms  little 
less  than  idolatrous,  and  every  incident  that  occurred,  in 
the  remotest  degree  tending  to  show  the  devotion  of 
his  partisans  to  him  or  his  administration,  was  eagerly 
sought  and  published.  The  history  of  a  singular  tribute 
of  affection  to  him  is  now  but  little  known.  It  appeared 


316  REPUBLICAN    GAZETTEER. 

in  the  Telegraphe  in  the  summer  of  1801,  —  and  thus  it 
runs : — 

REPUBLICANISM: 

Or,  a  tribute  of  Respect  from  the  Ladies  of  Cheshire,  Mass,  to  the  President 
of  the  United  States. 

In  the  town  of  Cheshire,  state  of  Massachusetts,  the  Ladies  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Leland's  church  and  society  agreed  to  make  a  cheese  *  to 
present  to  His  Excellency  Thomas  Jefferson,  as  a  mark  of  the  exalted 
esteem  they  had  of  him,  as  a  man  of  virtue,  benevolence,  and  a  real, 
sincere  friend  to  all  Christian  denominations,  and  their  full  confidence 
in  his  being  placed  in  the  executive  chair  of  the  American  nation,  and 
their  full  assurance  of  his  wielding  the  government  at  much  less 
expense  than  his  predecessor,  and  as  well,  and  it  is  hoped  much  better. 
Accordingly  they  requested  Mr.  Leland  to  procure  a  cheese  vat,  at 
their  expense,  six  feet  diameter,  and  twenty-one  inches  thick,  to  press 
the  cheese  in ;  and,  on  a  certain  day,  they  were  to  assemble  at  Mr. 
David  Brown's  with  the  curd.  The  vat  held  fourteen  hundred  weight 
of  curd,  and  they  had  three  hundred  weight  left.  This  cheese  was 
made  from  the  milk  of  nine  hundred  cows  at  one  milking.  When  our 
informant  left  Cheshire,  the  cheese  had  not  been  turned,  but  would  be 
in  a  few  days,  as  the  machinery  for  that  purpose  was  nearly  completed. 
....  This  cheese  is  to  be  sent,  in  the  spring  of  1802,  to  the  seat  of 
government,  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Leland,  who  was  formerly  a  neigh 
bor  to  Mr.  Jefferson  fifteen  years  in  the  state  of  Virginia.  The  motto 
on  this  cheese  is} —  "Rebellion  to  Tyrants  is  obedience  to  GOD." 

From  J.  M.  Dunham,  the  Republican  Gazetteer 
passed  into  the  possession  of  Benjamin  True,  and  Ben 
jamin  Parks,  who  gave  it  another  new  name, — The 
Democrat.  These  gentlemen  employed  as  editor,  an 
Englishman,  by  the  name  of  John  Williams,  —  an  author 
by  profession,  better  known  by  his  assumed  signature, 
Anthony  Pasquin,  —  a  name,  on  which  William  GifFord 
conferred  immortality,  in  his  celebrated  poem,  The  Ba- 
viad.  In  the  first  edition  of  that  poem,  GifTord  had  ap 
plied  the  lash  of  satire  to  the  productions  of  Williams 

*  See  page  167. 


JOHN    WILLIAMS.  317 

with  an  unsparing  hand.  In  the  second  edition  he  thus 
refers  to  him  :  — 

It  has  been  represented  to  me  that  I  should  do  well  to  avoid  all  men 
tion  of  this  man ;  from  a  consideration  that  one  so  lost  to  every  sense 
of  decency  and  shame,  was  a  fitter  object  for  the  beadle  than  the 
muse.  This  has  induced  me  to  lay  aside  a  second  castigation,  which  I 
had  prepared  for  him,  though  I  do  not  think  it  expedient  to  omit  what 
I  had  formerly  written. 

Here,  on  the  rack  of  Satire,  let  him  lie,  — 

Fit  garbage  for  the  hell-hound  Infamy. 

I  am  told  that  there  are  men,  so  weak  as  to  deprecate  this  miserable 
object's  abuse,  and  so  vain,  so  despicably  vain,  as  to  tolerate  his  praise. 
For  such  I  have  nothing  but  pity ;  but  should  there  be  a  man,  or  a 
woman,  however  high  in  rank,  base  enough  to  purchase  the  venal  pen 
of  this  miscreant,  for  the  sake  of  traducing  innocence  and  virtue,  then 

I  was  about  to  threaten,  but  it  is  not  necessary ;  the  profligate 

cowards,  who  employ  Anthony,  can  know  no  severer  punishment  than 
the  support  of  a  man,  whose  acquaintance  is  infamy,  and  whose  touch 
is  poison." 

For  this  satire,  Williams  prosecuted  the  publisher  of 
GifTord's  Poems ;  but,  on  the  exhibition  of  his  own 
writings,  by  the  defendant,  —  who  set  up  no  other 
defence  than  the  truth  of  the  libel,  —  Williams  was  non 
suited.  Williams,  at  one  time,  was  employed  as  a  writer 
for  the  Chronicle,  —  but  whether  before,  or  after,  his 
connection  with  the  Democrat,  is  not  recollected. 

The  Democrat  was  discontinued  in  1808. 


27* 


THE   GREENFIELD   GAZETTE. 


IN  January,  1792,  a  paper  was  first  published  at 
Greenfield,  in  the  county  of  Hampshire,  (now  the  shire 
town  of  Franklin  county)  by  Thomas  Dickman,  entitled 
the  Greenfield  Gazette,  or  Massachusetts  and  Vermont 
Telegraphe.  Its  editor,  Thomas  Dickman,  was  a  native 
of  Boston,  and  served  a  regular  apprenticeship  with 
Benjamin  Edes,  —  for  whom  he  always  entertained  a 
high  respect.  He  was  a  good  printer,  —  a  much  better 
one,  mechanically,  than  ever  his  master  was,  —  but 
never  undertook  to  write  for  his  paper  any  article  of 
greater  length  than  the  statement  of  an  ordinary  occur 
rence.  In  politics,  he  was  a  republican,  and  held  to  the 
sentiments  he  had  imbibed  in  the  office  of  Edes's  Gazette  ; 
but  he  never  obtruded  his  views,  offensively,  on  his  sub 
scribers,  a  majority  of  whom  were  disciples  of  the  fed 
eral  school.  He  was  a  man  of  sound  judgement  and 
good  taste,  and  if  there  was  not  much  in  the  editorial 
department  of  his  paper  to  excite  either  applause  or  dis 
satisfaction,  there  was  nothing  that  could  reasonably  give 
offence. 

In  1798,  the  second  title  of  the  paper  was  struck  out, 
and  in  place  of  it  was  put  "  An  Impartial  Register  of 
the  Times." 


THOMAS     DICKMAN.  319 

William  Coleman,  afterwards  the  originator  and  editor 
of  the  New- York  Evening  Post,  came  to  reside  in  Green 
field  about  the  year  1794,  and  occasionally  wrote  for  the 
Gazette  an  article  concerning  the  political  affairs  of  the 
day.  He  intended  to  make  Greenfield  his  permanent  resi 
dence,  and  laid  out  plans  for  improvement,  which,  if  they 
had  not  been  defeated  by  the  want  of  means  to  effect 
them,  would  have  added  much  to  the  attractions  of  that 
pleasant  village.  The  mansion-house,  which  he  erected, 
and  nearly  completed,  was  one  of  the  most  magnificent, 
in  the  style  of  its  architecture,  which  then  existed  in  that 
part  of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Coleman  was  celebrated  for 
his  skill  in  the  amusement  of  skating ;  and,  it  was  said 
that  he  had  skated  on  Connecticut  river,  from  near 
Greenfield  to  Northampton,  —  twenty  miles,  —  in  an 
evening ;  but  of  this  fact  I  have  no  knowledge.  He 
represented  the  town  two  years  in  the  Legislature.  He 
gave  up  his  residence  there  in  the  latter  part  of  1797. 

James  Elliot,  then  a  clerk  in  a  variety  store  in  Guilford, 
Vermont,  frequently  contributed  both  prose  and  poetry. 
This  gentleman,  in  1793,  enlisted  as  a  non-commissioned 
officer  in  the  army,  under  General  Wayne,  and  was  with 
it  two  or  three  years.  He  returned  in  1796,  and  pub 
lished  a  volume  of  his  "  works,"  in  poetry  and  prose. 
This  volume  was  printed  at  the  Greenfield  press.  Mr. 
Elliot  studied  law  at  Brattleboro',  and  afterwards  was 
elected  a  representative  to  Congress.  He  resided  a  short 
time  in  Philadelphia,  and  edited  a  paper  called  the 
Freeman's  Journal.  He  returned  to  Brattleboro',  where 
he  established  himself  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  and 
held  several  important  offices  under  the  state  govern 
ment.  He  has  been  dead  a  number  of  years. 


320  GREENFIELD    GAZETTE. 

Of  Elliot's  poetry  the  following  piece  is  probably  as 
fair  a  specimen  as  any  that  was  published  in  the  Green 
field  Gazette.  It  was  written  at  Greenville,  in  the  Ter 
ritory  N.  W.  of  the  river  Ohio,  November,  1795.  He 
was  then,  probably  about  nineteen  years  of  age. 

INVOCATION  TO   MEMORY. 

Descend,  fair  Nymph,  from  thy  aerial  throne, 

Aid  me  to  string  the  long  neglected  lyre ; 
Dispel  my  griefs,  make  all  thy  joys  my  own, 

And  kindle  fancy's  recollective  fire. 

Emerged  from  realms  obscured  by  Lethean  glooms, 
The  Muse,  inspired  by  thee,  renews  her  lays ; 

Beneath  thy  fostering  hand  fair  Science  blooms, 
And  Art  to  thee  its  humble  homage  pays. 

Come,  gentle  Genius  of  the  sacred  scene 
Of  arts  and  wisdom  —  authoress  of  fame ; 

Come  with  sweet  aspect  and  celestial  mien, 
Assist  the  bard,  and  animate  his  flame. 

Lead  me  to  the  retreats  of  early  youth, 

The  seats  of  pleasure  and  the  bowers  of  ease — 

Where,  clothed  with  native  innocence  and  truth, 
Beneath  the  shelter  of  umbrageous  trees,  — 

I  listened  to  the  sound  of  the  soft  gale, 
That  wafted  odors  o'er  the  verdant  plain ; 

Or  sighed  responsive  to  the  red-breast's  tale, 
And  Philomela's  sweetly  plaintive  strain  — 

Recall,  sweet  Nymph,  those  scenes  of  silent  peace, 
And  social  joy,  which  graced  my  earlier  hours  ; 

When,  in  colloquial  charms,  the  mind  sought  ease, 
Or  roved  through  Contemplation's  awful  bowers,  — 

Or  when  I  dared  on  Truth's  bright  wings  to  soar, 

By  Kollin  guided,  by  thy  spirit  fired, 
Traversed  the  regions  of  historic  lore, 

And  Fame's  immortal  monuments  admired. 

Yes,  I  have,  oft,  when  evening's  silent  reign 
Hushed  the  gay  world  to  sleep,  explored  the  page  ; 


THOMAS    DICKMAN.  321 

Viewed  the  bright  list  of  chiefs  (a  godlike  train,) 
Who  graced  the  Grecian  and  the  Roman  age : 

Conversed  with  virtuous  Socrates,  —  admired 
The  classic,  eloquent,  and  generous  flame, 

Which  Tully's  pure  and  patriot  bosom  fired, 

And  followed  Pompey  o'er  the  plains  of  fame,  — 

Beheld,  with  rapture,  the  Athenian  youth, 
Cimon,  illustrious  on  the  embattled  heath, 

And  Phocion,  ardent  in  the  cause  of  truth, 
And  glorious  in  the  trying  scene  of  death,  — 

Wept  o'er  the  fallen  liberty  and  laws 

Of  Rome,  with  Cato,  — joined  the  dauntless  band 

That  armed  with  Brutus  to  revenge  her  cause, 
And  slew  the  tyrant  of  his  native  land. 

Since  such  the  brilliant  harvest  Memory  yields, 
Of  mental  joys,  surpassing  sensual  charms, 

Why  should  I  longer  till  those  sterile  fields, 
Fruitful  alone  in  ominous  alarms  ? 

Why  seek  seclusion's  uninviting  shade 

And  give  my  heart  a  prey  to  causeless  fears  ? 

Why  roam,  forlorn,  the  solitary  glade, 
And  drown  my  sorrows  in  a  sea  of  tears  ? 

Memory,  with  thee  I  '11  pass  the  vacant  hour, 

An  humble  votary  at  thy  sacred  seat  5 
Thy  charms  surpass  luxurious  pomp  and  power  — 

E'EN  THE  REMEMBRANCE  OF  PAST  PAINS  IS  SWEET. 

Mr.  Elliot  was,  in  the  true  sense  of  the  phrase,  a 
SELF-TAUGHT  MAN.  Of  humble  but  respectable  origin, 
he  had  no  advantages  of  what  is  called  a  liberal  educa 
tion.  I  have  understood  that  his  father  died  when  he 
was  quite  young,  and  that  he  was  early  placed  in  a 
situation,  where  some  compensation  could  be  obtained 
for  his  services.  The  store,  in  which  he  was  a  clerk 
before  he  enlisted  into  the  army,  like  all  country  stores 
in  thinly  settled  towns,  (and  Guilford  was  then  hardly  a 
village)  was  not  a  very  favorable  situation  for  acquiring 


322  GREENFIELD    GAZETTE. 

a  knowledge  of  literature  or  science  ;  yet  young  Elliot 
so  improved  his  leisure  hours,  as  to  make  an  acquaint 
ance  with  the  best  English  classics,  and  to  lay  a  founda 
tion  for  the  attainment  of  a  distinguished  position  in 
society.  While  preparing  himself  for  admission  to  the 
bar,  he  wrote  for  other  newspapers  than  the  Greenfield 
Gazette.  In  January,  1797,  a  paper  called  the  Fed 
eral  Galaxy,  was  started  at  Brattleboro',  by  Thomas 
Dickman  and  Benjamin  Smead,  (a  young  man,  who  had 
been  one  of  Dickman's  apprentices,)  to  which  he  con 
tributed  a  number  of  articles.  When  the  Farmer's 
Museum  was  enjoying  its  brightest  day  of  fame,  Elliot 
was  a  constant  correspondent,  and  one  whose  contribu 
tions  were  highly  valued  by  Dennie.  Such  men  are 
worthy  of  remembrance.  In  honoring  them  the  country 
honors  itself.* 

Another  correspondent,  whose  writings  gave  some 
celebrity  to  the  Greenfield  Gazette,  was  the  Rev.  John 
Taylor,  the  minister  of  the  church  in  Deerfield.  He 
furnished  a  long  series  of  papers,  entitled  "  The  Proverb- 
ialist,"  an  imitation,  —  and  by  no  means  a  bad  one,  — 
of  Franklin's  "Poor  Richard." 

The  late  judge  of  probate  in  Franklin  county,  Rich 
ard  E.  Newcomb,  frequently  aided  the  editor  with  his 
advice  and  some  times  with  his  pen.  But  the  files  of 
the  Gazette  exhibit  no  extraordinary  effort  to  acquire  a 
literary  character.  It  was  a  respectable  record  of  intelli- 

*  This  Mr.  Elliot  had  a  brother,  (Samuel)  some  years  younger,  who  succeeded 
him,  in  the  store  at  Guilford  —  a  youth  of  similar  disposition  and  taste,  and  who 
also  became  somewhat  distinguished  as  a  writer  in  the  newspapers.  He  wrote 
for  the  Federal  Galaxy,  a  series  of  numbers  under  the  title,  of  the  Rural  Moralist. 
He  also  studied  law,  and  was  for  many  years,  in  successful  practice  in  Brattle 
boro'.  He  also  held  some  public  offices,  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  with 
fidelity ;  and  HE,  too,  has  been  dead  some  years. 


FRANCIS    BARKER.  323 

gence,  and  an  entertaining  and  useful  repository  of  matters 
interesting  to  the  population  of  the  rural  districts  in 
Massachusetts  and  Vermont,  to  which  its  circulation  was 
chiefly  confined. 

In  June,  1798,  Dickman  sold  his  printing  apparatus, 
bookstore,  and  subscription  books  for  the  Gazette,  to 
Francis  Barker,  —  a  young  man,  who  had  served  a  short 
apprenticeship  at  book-printing,  in  the  office  of  Messrs. 
Thomas  &  Andrews,  Boston.  He  knew  nothing  about 
conducting  a  paper,  and  had  not  patience  to  learn. 
Having  inherited  some  property,  he  had  visited  Europe 
and  South-America,  and  had  just  enough  of  his  patri 
mony  left  to  enable  him  to  purchase  the  establishment. 
He  enlarged  the  paper ;  —  expunged  from  the  head  the 
second  title  of  it,  and  inserted,  in  its  place,  "  A 
Register  of  Genuine  Federalism."  Though  he  had  no 
experience  as  a  printer  of  a  newspaper,  he  had  some 
very  just  notions  of  the  responsibility  of  an  editor.  In 
his  address,  at  the  opening  of  his  new  career,  he  said, — 
"  The  office  of  a  conductor  of  a  political  print,  in  its 
operation  on  the  public  mind,  is,  perhaps,  of  more  im 
portance  to  the  political  opinions  of  a  nation,  than  the 
occupation  of  any  other  individual  in  the  community. 
By  promulgating  error,  he  becomes  a  noon-day  pesti 
lence  to  society ;  but,  by  diffusing  truth,  he  is,  in  effect, 
a  powerful  instrument  of  general  utility  and  happiness. 
Fully  impressed  with  these  sentiments,  the  present  editor 
does  not  shrink  from  a  public  avowal  of  his  firm  deter 
mination  to  publish,  at  all  times,  and  on  all  occasions,  a 
truly  genuine  American  Gazette,  exclusively  devoted  to 
the  propagation  of  federal  principles  and  the  vindication 
of  his  country's  honor ;  in  opposition  to  all  the  clandes- 


324  GREENFIELD    GAZETTE. 

tine  artifices  of  party,  the  insidious  cant  of  Gallic  fra 
ternity,  and  the  open  menaces  of  unblushing  sedition. 
The  editor  believes  that  the  constitution  of  United 
America  combines  the  greatest  portion  of  liberty  with 
the  best  security  of  law,  that  any  nation  ever  experi 
enced  since  the  first  institution  of  civil  government 
among  mankind  ;  he  therefore  does  not  hesitate  to  de 
clare,  that  he,  who  is  unwilling  to  support  this  form  of 
government,  with  all  his  physical  and  moral  energies, 
commits  a  sacrilege  on  his  nature,  by  rejecting  the  great 
est  possible  human  good,  that  regenerated  man  has  ever 
enjoyed  since  the  introduction  of  the  Christian  Re 
ligion." 

With  all  this  patriotic  resolution,  Barker  never  wrote 
a  political  paragraph  of  ten  lines,  during  the  ten  months 
which  he  held  possession  of  the  Gazette.  He  made  two 
or  three  visits  to  Boston,  in  the  mean  time,  of  several 
weeks  each,  and  left  the  whole  charge  of  the  paper,  and 
the  post-office  also,  (he  having  obtained  the  appoint 
ment  of  postmaster,)  to  his  oldest  apprentice.  Sick  of 
his  bargain,  in  May,  or  the  beginning  of  June,  1799,  he 
made  an  arrangement  with  Dickman,  to  take  back  the 
paper,  printing-office,  bookstore,  post-office,  and  all. 
He  then  applied  for  a  commission  in  the  army  which 
was  raised  by  a  law  of  Congress,  in  consequence  of  the 
difficulties  with  the  French  Republic.  He  obtained  the 
commission  of  a  lieutenant,  and  was  stationed  at  Oxford, 
in  the  county  of  Worcester,  till  the  army  was  disbanded. 

Dickman  carried  on  the  business  again  for  some  years, 
when  he  relinquished  it  in  favor  of  John  Denio,  —  an 
excellent,  good-hearted  fellow,  who  had  been  his  appren 
tice.  This  gentleman,  after  several  unsuccessful  ex- 


THOMAS    DICKMAN.  325 

periments  in  business,  at  sundry  places,  is  now  —  or  was, 
quite  recently,  —  the  publisher  of  a  paper  at  Albion, 
Orleans  county,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  public 
office,  which,  I  sincerely  hope  may  afford,  for  the  re 
mainder  of  his  life,  a  quiet  and  happy  independence. 

The  Gazette  has  since  passed  through  the  hands  of 
several  proprietors,  and  is  still  published  under  the  title 
of  "  Gazette  and  Courier  "  —  a  paper  called  the  Courier, 
began  at  a  much  later  period,  having  been  united  with  it. 

Mr.  Dickman  removed  to  Springfield,  where  he  pub 
lished  a  paper  some  years,  and  then  changed  the  business 
of  printer  and  editor  for  that  of  a  retailer  of  dry  goods, 
groceries,  &c.  Relinquishing  that  employment,  he 
opened  a  reading-room,  which,  for  a  while,  was  a  favor 
ite  resort  for  his  fellow-citizens  and  neighbors,  but  was 
never  a  source  of  much  income.  He  has  been  dead 
some  years.  It  may  be  said  of  him,  as  of  many  other 
printers,  that  he  was  industrious  and  intelligent  —  honest 
and  faithful  —  worked  hard  and  died  poor. 


VOL.    II.  28 


THE    POLITICAL    GAZETTE. 


IN  April,  1795,  the  first  number  of  the  Political  Ga 
zette  appeared,  published  in  Newburyport,  by  William 
Barrett.  It  was  very  neatly  executed,  and  contained 
many  excellent  original  articles,  though  none  of  them 
seemed  to  be  the  production  of  the  editor ;  whose  labors 
appeared  to  extend  no  further  than  to  the  selection  of 
news  and  to  recording  the  deaths  and  marriages  that 
happened  within  the  circle  of  his  townsmen  and  their 
neighbors.  Some  of  the  poetical  compositions  of  "  Pe 
ter  Quince,"  (Isaac  Story,)  were  written  for  this  paper, 
before  that  writer  had  been  laid  under  contribution  by 
Dennie,  of  the  Farmer's  Museum.  One  of  Peter's 
Odes,  published  in  the  Political  Gazette,  was  dedicated 
to  the  Green  Dragon  Tavern,  —  a  well-known  public 
house  in  Boston,  and  famous  as  the  scene  of  caucuses 
of  the  republican  party.  Thus  the  ode  commences  :  — 

Kail,  place  of  refuge  —  kind  resort  —  all  hail! 

Like  Rome's  fair  consecrated  mount, 

Called  Sacer: 
That  is,  a  holy  and  becoming  jail, 

Where  each  sad  stute-menacer 
Fled,  when  the  laws  were  calling  to  account,  — 

Whither  resorted  every  sinner's  son, 
Where  any  mischief  vile  the  rogues  had  done, 
So  Livy  says,  and  he 's  a  man  of  parts, 


WILLIAM    BARRETT.  327 

A  man  who  tells  a  crooked  story  straight ; 
Who  gives  to  every  little  sentence  weight, 

And  wins  with  pleasing  style  his  reader's  hearts. 

Yes,  thou  art  such  a  place  —  but  of  an  humbler  kind ; 

That  is,  thou  art  of  lower,  meeker  nature ; 
Being  for  meaner  purposes  designed, 

Though  the  snug  nest-hole  of  each  factious  creature. 
In  thec  Rebellion,  with  her  turtle  feet, 
And  fell  Contention,  groveling,  growling,  meet. 

Thou  art  no  Dragon,  like  those  mentioned  by 
The  holy  patriarch,  in  a  holy  place, 
Nor  wouldst  thou  show  so  fierce,  so  grim  a  face, 

Or  issue  flame  from  thy  meek,  modest  eye. 

No,  lovely  Dragon,  well  I  know  thou  'dst  not ; 

'Tis  not  thy  nature — nor  wouldst  thou  affright 
From  his  dull  sleep  one  Jacobinic  sot, 

Who  courts  thy  bowels  by  the  rays  of  night, 
Thinking,  when  safe  within  thy  liquored  tomb, 
The  eye  of  Reason  cannot  pierce  the  gloom. 

Hail,  thou,  whose  color  putrefaction  suits : 

No  flaring  tail  waves  round  thy  scaly  form, 
No  paw  terrific  —  or  red  darting  tongue :  — 
No  —  thou  art  yet  in  thy  sad  train  but  young, 

Knowing  but  just  the  name  of  stately-storm. 

Hadst  thou  a  flaming  tail,  or  griping  claw, 
You  'd  never  use  it  'gainst  our  steady  Law ; 
No,  you  'd  not  do  so  —  nor  would  you  admit 

A  man  of  merit,  or  a  man  of  praise, 
A  worthy  fellow,  or  an  honest  cit, 

Within  thy  maw  his  frowning  head  to  raise. 

Thou  knowest  better,  ay,  art  wiser, 
Hast,  too,  a  good  adviser, 

Yclept  the  cut-throat,  cramp-eyed  Faction, 
Who  recommends,  with  lengthened  face, 
To  thy  important  useful  place 

The  vile  projectors  of  each  traitorous  action. 


328  POLITICAL    GAZETTE. 

Long  may  you  stand,  the  sign-post  of  state-evil, 
And  keep  poor  feeble  patriots  from  the  devil : 

Long  may  you is  good  Peter's  wish. 

Peter  's  thy  friend ;  thou  knew'st  it,  long  ago, 
He  serves  thee  in  the  clouded  day  of  wo, 

And  offers  to  thy  palate  this  small  dish. 


The  Gazette  contained  a  series  of  papers,  chiefly  on 
moral  subjects,  under  the  title  of  The  Camelion ;  another 
called  the  Literary  Syphon ;  and  still  another,  under  the 
head  of  Dishes  from  the  Table  of  Momus.  Among  the 
"  dishes  "  served  up  by  this  writer  were  "  The  character 
of  a  mighty  good  sort  of  a  Woman,"  and  "  The  charac 
ter  of  a  mighty  good  sort  of  a  Man,"  —  articles  well 
seasoned  with  wit  and  sarcasm.  I  am  not  quite  satisfied 
that  these  two  articles  were  originally  written  for  the 
Political  Gazette  ;  but  of  the  originality  of  the  following, 
"  From  the  Desk  of  Beri  Hesdin,"  *  there  can  be  no 
doubt :  — 

"  THE    GOOD    MAN   IS   NOT   AT   HOME." 

So  Beri  Hesdin  thought,  or  Deacon  Graves  would  surely  have  let  in 
the  maimed  soldier,  who,  in  the  last  beating  storm,  stood  knocking  at 
his  door.  The  wind  whistled  through  his  tattered  raiment,  and  hunger 
pinched  him  within ;  but,  the  door  opened  not.  "  And  why  ? "  says  the 
mild  form  of  Pity,  "  why  did  not  the  deacon  make  haste  to  let  him  in  1 " 
I  will  tell  thee,  thou  inhabitant  of  some  brighter  world :  he  was  sitting 
by  his  fire-side  —  not  studying  "the  whole  duty  of  man,"  or  "the 
Christian's  guide;  "  but  calculating  by  compound  interest;  how  rapidly 
he  was  rising  to  estate,  from  the  purchase  of  that  poor  petitioner's  notes, 
at  the  low  rate  of  two  shillings  on  the  pound ;  and  now  the  brave  vet 
eran  has  no  insignia  of  having  served  his  country,  but  wounds  and 
poverty  —  the  good  man  is  not  at  home;  he  hath  gone  along  journey, 
even  to  the  land  of  hard-heartedriess,  having  taken  a  bag  of  money  with 
him. 

*  This  writer  became,  afterward,  a  regular  correspondent  of  the  Fanner's 
Museum. 


WILLIAM    BARRETT.  329 

"When  in  our  smaller  courts  of  judgement,  we  behold  the  man,  who 
hath  sworn  to  do  justly,  and  act  according  to  law  and  evidence,  taking 
the  length  and  weight  of  the  parties'  purses,  instead  of  listening  to  the 
voice  of  reason  and  justice,  —  If  instead  of  rendering  to  Ctesar  the 
things  that  are  Caesar's,  he  is  balancing  the  rich  man's  fee  against  the 
poor  man's  right,  —  we  may  exclaim,  with  the  son  of  David,  the  good 
man  is  not  at  home. 

Dick  Dashaway  and  Peter  Rednose.  never  would  have  drank  a  dozen 
of  Madeira  at  Sir  Simon's  house,  and  played  with  spotted  pieces  of 
paper  till  the  crowing  of  the  cock  —  had  the  good  man  been  at  home. 
Madam's  chairs  would  not  have  been  broken,  nor  the  fine  wrought 
fringe  of  her  best  bed  been  trodden  under  feet.  The  porter  would  not 
have  pocketed  his  half  joe  for  conveying  Dick  on  his  shoulders,  nor 
surgeon  Cancer  a  bill  of  sixty  pounds  for  drawing  broken  glass  from 
Peter's  shin. 

*^*^^**^* 

Beri  Hesdin  fears  that  long  indeed  is  the  journey  of  the  good  man ; 
for  as  he  passed  by  the  doors  of  his  temple,  he  beheld,  and  lo !  in  the 
midst  thereof  were  those,  who  robbed  the  widow  of  her  dower,  and  eat 
up  the  portion  of  the  fatherless  —  sitting  —  veiled  with  the  form  of 
Christianity,  and  in  a  tone  of  godliness  making  long  prayers.  There 
also  was  he,  who  taketh  from  the  way-faring  man  his  purse,  and  from 
the  pilgrim  his  socks  5  who  letteth  not  the  beggar  pass  in  peace,  but 
blasphemeth  him  because  he  is  poor. 

Ye  that  are  slipping  off  the  leading-strings  of  life,  and  entering  the 
stage  of  action,  where  bustle  and  confusion  wear  the  form  of  business  5 
and  dissipation  and  idleness  draw  aside  Mm  that  hath  his  bag  of  money 
with  him  —  be  careful  that  virtue  is  your  companion  and  prudence  your 
guide ;  or  at  the  close  of  life  you  will  find  clouds  and  darkness  round 
about  you ;  your  feet  stumbling  on  the  dark  mountains  of  despair,  and 
when  you  knock  at  the  door  of  mercy,  will  hear  the  voice  of  Peter  ex 
claiming,  "  the  good  man  is  not  at  home"  BERI  HESDIN. 

The  Political  Gazette,  was  discontinued,  as  an  inde 
pendent  publication,  in  October,  1797.  A  paper,  called 
the  Impartial  Herald,  had  been  published,  some  years,  in 
Newburyport,  by  Angier  March.  The  proprietors  of 
the  two  papers,  wisely  agreed  to  unite  their  labors  and 
expenses  on  one,  which  they  issued  semi-weekly,  on 
Tuesday  and  Friday,  and  called  it  the 
28* 


330  NEWBURYPORT    HERALD. 

NEWBURYPORT  HERALD  AND  COUNTRY  GAZETTE. 
Mr.  Barrett  withdrew  from  the  concern  about  the  first 
of  January,  1798,  and  left  the  whole  in  the  hands  of 
Mr.  March ;  whoa  apparently,  conducted  the  paper  with 
as  much  fairness  and  impartiality,  as  could  be  expected 
or  desired  by  reasonable  men.  He  was,  however, 
annoyed  by  grumblers,  (what  editor  is  not  ?)  as  appears 
by  the  following  article  in  the  Herald  of  June  22, 
1798 : — 

Some  men  who  honor  my  paper  with  a  perusal  very  seldom,  frequently 
complain  that  it  is  a  party  paper,  that  I  publish  only  on  one  side,  &c. 
&c.  I  would  beg  leave  to  ask  what  those  gentlemen  want1?  A  person 
this  moment  has  the  impertinence  to  look  over  my  shoulder  and  reply 
to  my  query,  Why,  the  loaves  and  the  fishes  which  they  suppose  those  in 
office  receive.  And  in  fact  I  believe  it  of  many.  But  in  the  name  of 
liberty,  what  two  sides  can  there  now  be  in  this  country  —  but  those  of 
America's  friends  and  foes.  Is  not  the  government  of  our  own  forma 
tion  and  adoption,  and  has  not  experience  proved  it  the  best  on  the 
globe  ?  Are  not  the  administrators  of  it  men  of  our  own  choice,  from 
among  ourselves,  and  removable  at  the  will  of  the  people  ?  And  is  not 
that  man  a  traitor  to  his  country  who  vilifies  and  abuses  so  free  and 
valuable,  so  independent  and  judicious  a  government,  and  so  honest  and 
virtuous  an  administration  of  it  ?  Every  American,  every  Man  who 
has  the  least  spark  of  integrity  and  patriotism  will  answer  these  ques 
tions  in  the  affirmative.  It  is  well  known  that  the  present  government 
of  France  is  straining  every  nerve  to  fraternize  this  country  in  the  same 
manner  that  they  have  Holland,  Venice,  the  states  of  Italy,  Germany 
and  Switzerland  —  and  to  accomplish  its  virtuous  intentions,  have  made 
use  of  foreign  agents  in  this  country,  bribery,  corruption,  and  finally 
threatens,  that  unless  we  submit  to  their  domination,  to  ravage  our 
coasts  and  destroy  our  Commerce. 

And  yet  there  are  found  men  base  and  mean  enough  to  say  publicly, 
that  they  are  justifiable  in  their  demands,  and  that  the  Editors  of  News 
papers  who  refuse  to  publish,  and  republish,  their  base  and  traitorous 
scurrility,  "publish  only  on  one  side! ! /"  If  this  is  publishing  on  one 
side,  they  may  rest  assured  that  on  that  side  only  shall  I  publish  —  on 
the  side  of  my  country.  And  neither  French  nor  English  bribes  or 
threats  shall  ever  induce  me  to  swerve  from  patriotic  rectitude. 


TIMOTHY    DEXTER.  331 

Conscious  that  I  have  discharged  my  duty  to  my  subscribers  and 
country  with  assiduity  and  attention  —  I  shall  not  regret  the  loss  of  a 
subscriber  who  dislikes  the  principles  or  disdains  the  abilities  of  the 

EDITOR. 

There  were  some  well-written  political  communications 
in  the  Herald,  on  the  exciting  topics  of  the  day.  But 
the  reader  has  probably  already  seen  extracts  enough  of 
this  character,  and  I  pass  them  over  to  present  a  speci 
men  of  the  writing  of  one,  who,  fifty  years  ago,  was 
quite  notorious  as  a  writer  for  the  newspapers,  and  who 
published  a  pamphlet,  containing  a  number  of  his  news 
paper  articles,  and  near  the  end  of  the  book,  ushered  in 
two  or  three  other  articles,  with  a  note  to  the  reader, 
saying  that  they  were  not  of  his  writing,  but  "  very 
drole."  This  gentleman's  name  was  Timothy  Dexter. 
His  mansion  in  Newburyport,  and  the  fences  that  in 
closed  it,  were  decorated  with  the  images  of  all  the 
Presidents  of  the  United  States,  and  with  those  of  other 
individuals,  and  objects.  The  article,  that  follows,  is  an 
exact  transcript  from  the  original :  — 

Mister  Printer, 

WHAT  is  the  Noys  About  the  Lyon  got  down  to  our  Congress 
there  making  A  grat  Noys  got  the  art  of  Spiting  and  telling  of 
grat  things  what  he  was  Eabel  to  Love  to  turnc  the  Corent  as  he  was 
the  man  Capebel  of  so  Daring  and  wanted  to  be  more  than  A  man 
alse  &  &  so  on  Now  is  the  grat  worcy  ounited  Stats  to  be  Shouk  in  the 
wind  A  2  Leged  Lion  A  Anemel  and  wee  tillers  of  the  Leand  felow 
mortels  to  Swet  and  tile  to  pay  five  thousan  dolors  to  pay  our  worthy 
Congres  men  for  this  beast  Lion  and  Likewise  but  two  Leged  halfe  way 
basterd  Life  if  this  be  put  up  with  Corn  under  frace  and  be  Shone  boys 
and  Louse  all  you  felow  mortels  have  won  and  be  Com  Doup  but  Now 
A  wake  Rouse  turne  out  A  bad  man  with  out  Cost  beat  the  Roags 
march  put  sum  fetters  on  them  or  him  to  transport  them  but  Dont  Let 
it  Cost  the  Labering  men  so  much  to  trye  such  Anemel  it  is  Now  good 


332  NEWBURYPORT    HERALD. 

wisdum  but  hurst  the  Cose  and  the  han  Cuffs  will  frett  the  Rists  some 
then  tafe  Care  my  felow  mortels  of  Dubel  minded  men 

A  freethinker 

This  is  a  fair  specimen  of  much  that  Timothy  Dexter 
published,  to  enlighten  his  fellow-citizens.  According 
to  the  doctrine  of  Jaques  in  "  As  you  like  it,"  he  might 
truly  be  called  a  fool,  for  "  heaven  sent  him  fortune." 
But  why  heaven  showers  wealth  so  bountifully  where  it 
has  denied  brains,  is  a  problem,  that  philosophy  has  not 
yet  solved. 

The  Newburyport  Herald,  has  had  several  proprie 
tors.  It  has  maintained  a  respectable  rank  among  its 
cotemporaries,  and  is  now  a  daily  publication,  conducted 
with  much  ability,  and  meriting,  as  I  presume  it  receives, 
a  good  share  of  public  support. 


THE    SALEM    REGISTER. 


ON  Monday,  May  12,  1800,  William  Carleton  issued 
a  paper  in  Salem,  under  the  title  of  the  IMPARTIAL 
REGISTER,  which  was  continued  semi-weekly  on  Mon 
day  and  Thursday.  Its  motto  was,  — 

All  parties  here  may  plead  an  honest,  favorite  cause : 

Whoever  reasons  best  on  Nature's,  Wisdom's  laws, 

Proclaims  eternal  Truth  —  gains  Heaven's  and  Man's  applause. 

A  few  months  after  its  first  appearance,  it  took  the 
title  of  the  SALEM  IMPARTIAL  REGISTER.  Subsequently 
the  title  was  changed  to  the  SALEM  REGISTER  ;  then  to 
ESSEX  REGISTER  ;  and  again  to  SALEM  REGISTER, 
under  which  title  it  is  now  published. 

The  Impartial  Register  began  its  career  as  an  advo 
cate  for  the  election  of  Mr.  Jefferson  to  the  Presidency. 
With  all  the  ability  of  its  editor  and  his  friends,  —  among 
whom  were  the  Rev.  William  Bentley  and  some  of  the 
wealthiest  families  in  Salem,  —  it  opposed  the  doctrines 
and  the  measures  of  the  federal  party.  The  political 
warfare  between  the  Register  and  the  Salem  Gazette 
was  carried  on  with  great  vigor  and  bitterness.  In  the 
autumn  of  1802,  Timothy  Pickering, — Mr.  Adams's 
ex-secretary  of  State,  —  was  nominated  by  the  Federal 
ists  of  that  district,  as  a  candidate  for  representative 
to  Congress.  The  Democratic  candidate  was  Jacob 


334  SALEM    REGISTER. 

Crowninshield.  Perhaps  no  electioneering  contest  was 
ever  fought  with  more  determined  resolution  to  live  or 
die  with  the  result.  Crowninshield  was  elected,  and,  to 
console  themselves  for  their  defeat,  the  Federalists  prose 
cuted  the  editor  of  the  Register  for  a  libel  on  Pickering. 
A  few  days  after  the  election,  Carleton  was  indicted  by 
the  grand  jury  of  the  county  of  Essex,  then  sitting  in 
Salern.  The  article,  on  which  the  indictment  was  found 
ed,  was  in  the  following  words  :  — 

Robert  Listen,  the  British  Artibassador,  distributed  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars  amongst  the  partisans  of  the  English  nation  in 
America.  Generous  Tars,  and  honest  Landsmen,  do  you  think  it  likely 
that  Jacob  Crowninshield  partook  of  these  secret  largesses  1  But  can 
you  entirely  banish  from  your  breasts  the  idea  that  our  Ex- Secretary 
might  receive  from  his  dear  friend  and  intimate  companion  some  little 
token,  some  small  gratuity,  for  all  his  zealous  efforts  against  liberty  and 
her  sons,  for  all  his  attachment  to  the  interests  of  England,  for  all  his 
endeavors  in  all  his  transactions,  to  prostrate  neutral  rights  at  the  mercy 
of  every  commander  under  the  British,  from  his  honor  Admiral  Harvey 
to  the  mild  Matson,  and  from  him  down  to  the  pirates  of  New-Provi 
dence,  for  all  these  good  and  loyal  services  ?  Is  it  at  all  unlikely  that 
Squire  Timothy  did  not  receive  some  small  trifling  remembrance  of  the 
favor  of  his  most  sacred  majesty  of  Britain  —  not  to  mention  the  affair 
of  Senator  Blount,  Maitland,  and  the  Black  Emperor  ? 

Carleton  announced  the  fact,  in  his  paper  of  Novem 
ber  18,  as  follows :  — 

SQUALLY  APPEARANCES.  The  editor  of  this  paper  was  yesterday 
called  into  Court  to  answer  to  an  indictment  for  a  supposed  libel  upon 
the  ex-candidate  and  ex-secretary,  Timothy  Pickering.  He  forbears  to 
make  any  remarks  upon  this  transaction.  He  leaves  it  to  the  juries  of 
a  Republican  Country  to  determine  his  crime  and  his  punishment. 
His  Judges,  however  Federal,  will,  he  trusts,  be  impartial  in  their 
charges,  and  he  shall  cheerfully  abide  the  verdict  of  twelve  virtuous 
yeomen.  He  knows  well  who  are  the  characters  to  whom  he  owes  this 
prosecution ;  and  the  mildness  and  modesty  of  the  complainants  have 
long  exemplified  their  hatred  of  PERSECUTION. 


WILLIAM  CARLETON.  335 

The  trial  came  on  in  the  following  April,  before  the 
Supreme  Court  at  Ipswich.  Carleton  was  convicted, 
and,  on  the  25th,  was  sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of  one 
hundred  dollars,  and  the  costs  of  prosecution  ;  to  be 
imprisoned  in  the  county  gaol  two  months  ;  and  to  give 
bonds  with  two  sureties  in  four  hundred  dollars  each,  to 
keep  the  peace  for  two  years.  The  comments  of  the 
Register  on  the  trial  and  its  result  were  unexpectedly 
mild  and  respectful :  — 

The  result  of  the  late  prosecution  is  well  known.  The  printer  is 
taken  from  his  family  and  is  confined  in  gaol.  His  scanty  means  are 
to  be  taken  away  in  fines,  and  he  is  to  he  treated  as  if  he  were  the  only 
offender.  Ko  indulgence  is  to  be  granted  from  that  provocation,  which 
the  law  considers  in  a  quarrel.  No  consideration  that  he  acted  in  his 
own  defence,  that  the  government  of  his  country,  which  he  reverenced, 
was  insulted  in  the  person  of  its  first  magistrate,  and  that  all  the  can 
didates  he  could  propose  for  public  honors  were  abused  and  traduced. 
Allow  that  he  cannot  prove  all  his  assertions.  Can  they  who  gave  the 
provocation  prove  their  assertions  ?  Have  any  attempts  been  made  to 
know  whether  they  can  ?  Is  it  not  cowardly  to  insult  a  man,  and  then 
to  sue  him  for  insult,  after  he  has  been  provoked  ?  Much  honor  may 
this  prosecution  do  the  dismissed  secretary,  or  to  any  of  his  friends. 

Carleton  died  on  the  25th  of  May,  1805,  aged  about 
thirty-four  years.  The  Register  states  that  he  had 
endured  great  debility  in  consequence  of  a  fever,  under 
which  he  labored  during  his  imprisonment ;  —  that  on 
the  Monday  preceding  his  death,  he  was  occupied  with 
his  usual  vigor  till  late  in  the  evening: — and  that,  on 
Tuesday  morning,  a  violent  fever,  with  derangement, 
came  on,  which  terminated  his  life  in  twenty-four  hours. 
"  He  was  born  in  Salem,  and  descended  from  two  of  the 
ancient  families  of  the  country.  He  always  possessed 
great  cheerfulness  of  temper  and  great  benevolence  of 
mind.  He  was  distinguished  by  his  perseverance,  ac- 


336  SALEM    REGISTER. 

tivity,  and  uprightness.  To  his  generous  zeal  the  public 
are  indebted  for  the  early  information,  which  the  Regis 
ter  gave  of  the  most  interesting  occurrences.  The 
friends  of  his  youth  enjoyed  the  warmth  of  his  gratitude. 
His  professions  and  friendships  were  sincere.  He  was 
an  able  editor,  a  friend  to  our  happy  administration,  and 
an  honest  man." 

After  Carleton's  death,  the  Register  was  "  Printed 
for  Elizabeth  Carleton,"  his  widow,  till  August  25th, 
when  she  also  died,  just  thirty-two  days  after  her  hus 
band.  From  that  time,  it  was  "  published  for  the  Pro 
prietors  ; "  but  no  name  of  either  proprietor  or  printer 
appeared  in  the  imprint,  until  it  was  placed  in  the  pos 
session  of  Haven  Pool  and  Warwick  Palfray,  —  two 
young  men,  who  had  been  apprentices  in  the  office,  and 
to  whom  the  management  of  the  printing  had  been 
entrusted,  after  the  death  of  Carleton.  Mr.  Bentley 
was  the  man,  who  contributed  more  than  any  other  to 
keep  the  paper  alive ;  but  others  assisted.  Joseph 
Story,  —  the  late  Judge  Story,  then  a  practising  lawyer 
in  Salem,  —  wrote  frequently  for  the  Register,  and  his 
paragraphs  are  placed  under  the  editorial  head,  undistin 
guished  by  any  mark  to  identify  them  ;  but  I  am  greatly 
deceived  if  the  following  were  not  from  his  pen :  — 

Who  can  stand  before  envy  ?  The  happy  establishment  of  Mr.  Jef 
ferson  in  the  seat  of  the  chief  magistrate  of  our  Union,  must,  for 
several  years  exclude  many,  who  expected  offices  under  a  different 
administration,  from  any  hopes  of  promotion.  In  this  delay  of  their 
honors,  they  have  no  other  way  to  gratify  their  restless  ambition,  than 
by  degrading  those,  who  have  reached  the  honors  they  could  not  obtain. 
And  when  we  consider  their  number,  their  desperate  purposes,  and  the 
power  of  disappointment  upon  ambition,  what  can  be  thought  a  suffi 
cient  restraint  upon  inflamed  passions  and  malignant  fury "?  The  world 
has  seen,  often,  the  violence,  which  envy  can  purpose,  and  produce. 


PROPRIETORS.  337 

And  where  a  comparison  is  made  between  present  and  past  times,  it 
may  lie  said,  we  suffer  little  in  our  own  times,  from  the  worst  cause  of 
public  discontents  and  distraction.  We  may  well  enough  he  prepared 
for  the  worst  things,  but  we  should  remember  that  the  fear  of  the  public 
contempt  can  alone  prevent  the  perpetration  of  them.  At  present,  in 
our  country,  the  public  virtue  is  too  active  to  admit  the  full  triumph  of 
envious  prosecutors  of  good  fame.  The  best  rule,  in  the  present  state 
of  things,  is  to  suffer  Time  to  be  the  interpreter  of  the  actions  of  men  : 
not  to  approve  or  condemn,  till  calm  inquiry  has  done  all  its  office, 
and  then  we  may  find  the  true  value  of  our  national  benefactors.  April 
29,  1805. 

The  great  pains  taken  to  increase  all  prejudices  against  the  French, 
when  they  had  little  power  over  the  abuses  which  their  subjects  commit, 
while  every  indulgence  was  given  to  the  English,  too  plainly  discov 
ered  prejudices,  which  ought  most  seriously  to  be  reprehended.  Far 
should  any  American  be  from  any  disposition  to  excite  needless 
prejudices  against  any  nation.  Far  should  he  be  from  justifying  an 
injury  from  one  that  had  not  the  same  favor  from  another.  To  pre 
serve  our  Independence,  we  must  deal  justly,  and  be  circumspect  with 
all.  If  no  political  evils  could  arise,  we  might  be  indifferent  on  this 
subject.  But  to  the  French  we  have  no  attachments  which  interest 
cannot  create.  Of  the  British,  we  have  all  the  partiality  which  can 
belong  to  customs  and  laws.  We  should  cultivate  favor  with  all,  but 
upon  the  great  principles  which  all  Avill  justify.  But  are  we  strangers 
to  the  artifices  by  which  an  undue  foreign  influence  can  be  obtained  ? 
Have  we  never  suffered  from  them  ?  Is  there  a  generous  Englishman 
who  cannot  distinguish  between  justice  to  his  nation,  and  a  submission 
to  his  unreasonable  claims  ?  Is  there  one  who  does  not  wish  to 
feel  the  distinction  ?  Let  it  not  then  be  supposed,  that  a  love  of  our 
own  nation,  above  any  other,  is  a  hatred  of  any  nation.  We  wish  the 
firmest  affection  between  the  two  nations  established  upon  honor  and 
justice.  But  when  they  violate  the  laws  of  nations,  when  they  commit 
depredations  upon  the  unprotected  commerce  of  individuals,  and  seize 
without  notice  upon  the  innocent  as  their  prey  —  we  must  be  forgiven 
if  we  say,  we  abhor  commerce  with  such  a  nation,  and  withdraw  from 
every  alliance  with  oppression.  Sept.  19,  1805. 

It  is  among  the  last  attempts  to  degrade  the  immortal  President  of 
the  United  States,  to  insinuate  that  his  friends  feared  to  display  to  the 
whole  world  the  full  history  of  Washington.  Justice  to  the  history  of 
our  country  would  spread  a  glory  round  our  national  benefactor,  and 
discover  to  the  nation  new  causes  of  their  sincere  gratitude.  To  the 

29 


338  SALEM    REGISTER. 

historian,  no  objection  should  be  made  by  which  he  might  be  discour 
aged  in  his  utmost  investigations.  We  leave  him  not  only  every  occur 
rence,  but  all  the  colors  by  which  he  could  emblazon  it.  We  hope  he 
will  not  withhold  a  single  circumstance,  provided  he  is  not  disposed  to 
leave  it  naked  and  unexplained.  Let  him  tell  the  whole  truth,  and  it 
will  raise  a  monument  of  glory  to  the  President  of  the  United  States. 
We  may  venture  to  predict  all  these  advantages  from  the  past  success 
of  his  enemies.  He  is  more  known,  more  esteemed,  more  illustrious, 
by  every  attempt  to  injure  his  reputation.  When  political  character  is 
confounded  with  domestic  anecdote  which  cannot  be  explained,  scandal 
is  confounded,  and  envy  speechless.  Nov.  4,  1805. 

In  August,  1806,  an  advertisement  appeared  in  the 
Register,  stating  that  "  The  Salem  Register  having  been 
supported  in  its  editorial  department  by  the  voluntary 
assistance  of  its  friends  since  the  decease  of  the  late 
editor,  Mr.  Carleton,  the  proprietors  are  desirous  of 
obtaining  an  editor  to  conduct  the  same  in  future." 
JVo  new  arrangement  appears  to  have  been  made,  how 
ever,  till  July,  1807,  when  Warwick  Palfray,  jun.  who 
had  been  an  apprentice  with  Carleton,  formed  a  partner 
ship  with  Haven  Pool,  and  purchased  the  entire  estab 
lishment.  Pool  &  Palfray  conducted  the  business,  as 
partners  till  the  decease  of  Pool,  in  July,  1811.  From 
that  time  to  January,  1835,  Palfray  was  the  sole  editor 
and  proprietor,  when  he  received,  as  a  partner,  John 
Chapman,  who  had  served  an  apprenticeship  in  the 
office.  This  connection  was  not  of  long  continuance. 
Mr.  Palfrey  died  on  the  23d  of  August,  1838,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-one  years. 

WARWICK  PALFRAY,  jun.  was  a  native  of  Salem,  and 
a  descendant  of  Peter  Palfray,  the  first  settler  in  that 
place,  —  he  having  taken  up  his  abode  there  some  years 
before  the  arrival  of  Governor  Endicott.  With  but 
slight  advantages  of  education,  from  an  unaided  appren- 


WARWICK    PALFRAY,    JUN.  339 

tice  in  a  printing-office,  he  became  the  editor  and  pro 
prietor  of  an  important  and  influential  newspaper.  At 
the  time  of  his  decease,  he  was  a  member  of  the  com 
mon  council  of  the  city  of  Salem, — an  office,  which 
he  had  held  from  the  organization  of  the  city  govern 
ment.  He  had  represented  his  native  town  several 
years,  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  state, 
where  he  was  an  active  and  useful  member. 

Mr.  Palfray  began  his  apprenticeship  with  Carleton 
in  1801.  After  the  death  of  Carleton.  while  the  Regis 
ter  was  held  as  the  property  of  Carleton's  heirs,  and  for 
two  years  after,  while  it  was  owned  by  a  company  of 
gentlemen,  he  was  one  of  the  principal  conductors. 
When,  in  connection  with  Pool,  in  1807,  he  became 
proprietor  of  the  establishment,  he  was  still  a  minor; 
but  such  was  his  intelligence,  integrity,  and  stability  of 
character,  that  he  possessed  the  entire  confidence  of  the 
friends  of  the  Register  and  the  party  of  which  it  was 
the  organ ;  and  the  event  showed  that  their  confidence 
was  not  misplaced. 

An  obituary  notice  in  the  Register,  from  which  some 
of  the  preceding  facts  have  been  derived, — written, 
undoubtedly  by  a  friendly  hand,  but,  I  believe,  from 
personal  knowledge,  without  exaggeration  —  furnishes 
the  following  paragraphs :  — 

Under  the  editorial  care  of  Mr.  Palfray,  the  Register  has  had  a  pop 
ularity  and  influence  probably  equal  to  any  semi-weekly  paper  in  the 
state.  It  was  under  his  charge  during  the  whole  period  of  the  Em 
bargo  and  War,  and  all  the  excitement  incident  to  that  period  of  embit 
tered  political  feeling  and  almost  deadly  party  hostility;  —  yet,  not 
withstanding  all  the  excitement  of  those  periods,  he  gave  as  little  just 
cause  of  offence  as  any  man  living  could.  Possessed  of  the  most  gen 
erous  and  honorable  feelings,  he  never  willingly  gave  just  cause  of 


340  SALEM    REGISTER. 

offence  to  a  political  opponent.  Personal  allusions  were  always  pain 
ful  to  him ;  and  at  those  periods  of  deadly  feud,  when  he  was  placed 
at  the  editorial  desk,  it  was  his  greatest  pleasure  to  take  from  the 
papers  handed  him  for  publication,  the  poisoned  arrows ;  and  when  he 
could  not,  consistently  with  political  duty,  wholly  remove  personal 
allusions,  to  soften  them  to  the  utmost  limit.  Little,  at  those  periods, 
did  his  political  opponents,  who  were  censuring  the  bitterness  of  the 
communications,  know  how  much  he  had  attenuated  their  violence, 
and  how  he  had  to  struggle  with  his  correspondents  to  restrain  the 
madness  of  party. 

Mr.  Palfray  was  a  firm,  unwavering,  and  consistent  politician.  Suc 
cess  never  made  him  assume  an  ungenerous  attitude  towards  his  politi 
cal  opponents,  and  defeat  never  discouraged  from  perseverance  to  gain 
the  ascendency  for  what  he  deemed  correct  principles  and  measures. 
He  never  truckled  to  power  nor  sought  personal  advantages  for  him 
self.  All  the  offices  he  held  were  unsought ;  for  he  was  uncommonly 
modest  and  diffident  of  his  own  powers  and  claims.  Though  for  years 
the  uncompromising  combatant  of  the  old  federal  party,  no  man  Avas 
more  gratified  than  himself  at  that  epocha  of  good  feeling,  when  it  was 
considered  proper  for  those,  who  had  been  so  long  estranged  from  each 
other,  by  mistaken  views  of  each  other's  opinions  and  principles,  to  act 
in  concert,  and  no  man  felt  less  of  the  leaven  of  old  party  than 
himself. 

In  the  private  relations  of  life,  Mr.  Palfray  was  incapable  of  giving 
offence  amounting  to  an  insult.  His  heart  was  the  abode  of  pure 
thoughts  —  his  life  the  exemplar  of  good  principles.  The  tongue  of 
calumny,  in  the  times  of  bitterest  political  animosity,  never  breathed 
a  syllable  against  the  spotless  purity  of  his  life  and  character. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Palfray,  the  Register  was 
continued,  for  a  year  or  two  by  John  Chapman,  the  sur 
viving  partner.  A  son  of  Mr.  Palfray,  (Charles  W.) 
then  became  associated  with  Mr.  Chapman,  and  the 
paper  is  now  published  by  them.  Its  appearance  indi 
cates  that  the  concern  is  prosperous,  and  that  those,  who 
conduct  it,  intend  it  shall  lose  none  of  its  well-founded 
claims  to  support. 

The  Salem  Register,  from  its  commencement,  has 
been  the  favored  channel,  through  which  many  good 


REV.    WILLIAM    BENTLEY.  341 

and  able  writers  have  chosen  to  diffuse  their  political 
opinions.  Whatever  offence  it  may  have  given  to  polit 
ical  opponents,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  its  sentiments 
have  been  promulgated  with  great  ability.  In  its  early 
stages,  the  late  Judge  Story  (before  his  appointment  to 
the  bench  of  the  supreme  court)  was  a  liberal  contribu 
tor.  Andrew  Dunlap,  a  lawyer  of  promising  talents, 
was  one  of  the  writers,  previous  to  18*25  ;  and  Joseph 
E.  Sprague  (the  present  sheriff  of  Essex  county)  fre 
quently  enriched  its  columns  with  political  disquisitions. 
But  it  is  generally  believed  that  the  writer  on  whom  the 
conductors  mainly  relied  for  aid,  was  the  Rev.  William 
Bentley.  Of  the  character,  and  career  of  this  gentle 
man, — so  often  mentioned  in  the  preceding  pages  of  this 
volume,  —  the  following  memoir  has  been  compiled, 
from  such  notices  of  him  as  appeared  in  newspapers 
soon  after  his  death,  and  from  the  personal  recol 
lections  of  one  of  his  intimate  friends. 

WILLIAM  BENTLEY  was  born  in  Boston,  June  22, 
1759.  He  was  the  son  of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  Bentley, 
and  was  named  William  in  honor  of  his  maternal  grand 
father,  William  Paine,  who  was  a  man  of  some  property 
at  the  northerly  part  of  Boston.  This  old  gentleman 
had  a  strong  attachment  to  this  grandchild,  attended  to 
his  early  education,  and  paid  his  expenses  at  college. 
Young  Bentley  was  early  distinguished  for  his  natural 
talents,  and  for  his  uncommon  acquisitions  in  classical 
and  general  literature.  He  graduated  in  1777,  and  was 
immediately  employed  as  assistant  teacher  in  the  Boston 
Latin  Grammar  school,  where  he  had  been  fitted  for 
college;  and,  in  1779,  he  was  the  preceptor  of  the 
North  Grammar  school.  He  was  appointed  tutor  in 
29* 


342  SALEM    REGISTER. 

Greek  and  Latin  at  Harvard  College,  in  1780,  and 
while  holding  this  office  he  prepared  himself  for  the 
ministry.  On  the  24th  of  September,  1783,  he  was 
ordained,  as  colleague  pastor  with  the  Rev.  James  Dimon, 
over  the  East  Church  in  Salem.  His  colleague  died  in 
1788,  and  Mr.  Bentley  continued  his  pastoral  relation, 
alone,  with  the  church,  till  his  death,  December  29, 
1819.  He  was  distinguished  for  the  position,  which  he 
took  in  the  early  part  of  his  career,  —  with  his  friend 
and  class-mate,  the  Rev.  James  Freeman,  of  Boston,  — 
in  favor  of  Unitarianism. 

In  1794,  when  William  Carleton  undertook  the  publi 
cation  of  the  Salem  Gazette,  he  and  Mr.  Bentley 
boarded  with  an  old  lady,  —  a  relative  of  Carleton's ; 
and,  to  assist  the  young  kinsman  of  his  landlady,  Mr. 
Bentley  was  induced  to  write  a  summary  of  news, 
weekly,  for  the  Gazette.  Not  long  after,  Carleton  had 
a  long  and  severe  sickness,  and,  as  an  act  of  friendship, 
he  conducted  the  paper  alone.  While  thus  engaged,  he 
opened  a  correspondence  with  Professor  Ebeling  of 
Hamburg,  who  was  preparing  a  History  and  Geography 
of  the  United  States.  The  German  professor  wanted 
materials,  and  Mr.  Bentley  took  unwearied  pains  to  col 
lect  and  send  them  to  him.  He  sent  all  the  curious 
books  he  could  procure  and  wrote  many  letters.  It 
then  occurred  to  him  that,  by  writing  a  summary  of 
intelligence  for  the  Gazette,  he  might  aid  both  Ebeling 
and  Carleton,  and  this  was  the  origin  and  motive  of  his 
labors  in  that  department  of  the  paper  ;  for  he  was  never 
paid  a  dollar  for  his  services,  which  were  constantly  and 
industriously  continued  for  near  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
The  various  newspapers,  received  in  exchange  for  Carle- 


REV.    WILLIAM     BENTLEY.  313 

ton's  paper,  Mr.  Bentley  was  accustomed  to  pack  in  the 
neatest  manner,  and  send  to  Professor  Ebeling,  with  an 
index  to  such  papers  and  articles  as  he  deemed  most 
important.  In  return  for  such  books  as  Mr.  Bentley 
sent  to  him,  the  Professor  sent  German  publications,  but 
no  cash  transactions  ever  passed  between  them.* 

Mr.  Bentley  was  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  and  was  induced  to 
write  for  its  Collections  a  History  of  Salem  ;  but  becom 
ing  disgusted  with  the  conduct  of  one  of  the  publishing 
committee,  (the  Rev.  Dr.  Morse,)  he  abandoned  the 
design  after  having  made  some  progress.  This  is  to  be 
regretted ;  for  he  was  minutely  acquainted  with  every 
interesting  incident  concerning  his  adopted  town,  and 
retained  in  his  iron  memory,  a  thousand  facts,  which  he 
had  labored  to  collect,  but  which  he  had  not  recorded. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  labor  and  activity  of  Mr. 
Bentley  in  his  profession,  and  in  every  department  of 
social  life.  He  left  three  thousand  three  hundred  ser 
mons,  and  fifty-six  other  manuscripts  of  various  sizes, 
some  quite  large  and  elaborate,  in  which  he  had  re 
corded  the  events  of  the  passing  day,  and  his  observa 
tions  in  philosophy,  theology,  astronomy,  meteorology, 
geology,  and  many  other  branches  of  science,  that,  in 
his  day,  were  rarely  attended  to  by  the  scholar.  He 
was  expert  in  at  least  twenty-one  languages,  besides 
having  that  smattering  of  others,  which  arises  from  a 

*  In  1818,  Israel  Thorndike,  of  Boston,  purchased  the  library  of  Professor  Ebe- 
IhjT,  and,  presented  it  to  Harvard  College.  The  newspapers,  which  the  Professor 
had 'received  from  Mr.  Bentley  had  been  bound,  making  quite  a  number  of  large 
volumes,  and  they  form  an  interesting  portion  of  the  library  of  that  institution. 
Many  of  the  books  on  American  History,  which  came  from  Professor  Ebeling,  it 
is  presumed  are,  also,  those  he  had  received  from  Mr.  Bentley. 


344  SALEM    REGISTER. 

thorough  acquaintance  with  so  many.  In  Latin,  Greek, 
Hebrew,  Arabic,  and  Persian,  he  probably  had  no  rival 
in  this  country.  He  read  all  the  popular  languages  of 
Europe,  not  excepting  the  Russian.  He  corresponded 
with  the  petty  chiefs  of  Arabia  and  Eastern  Africa ;  and 
it  is  related  of  him,  that  when  the  Tunisian  ambassador 
presented  his  credentials  to  our  government,  no  one,  but 
Mr.  Bentley,  could  translate  them.  His  library  con 
tained  four  thousand  volumes,  and  was  the  largest  and 
best  private  library  in  the  nation,  except  that  of  Mr. 
Jefferson. 

His  devotedness  to  books  did  not  prevent  an  unusual 
attention  to  the  concerns  of  the  people  of  his  parish. 
Besides  writing  such  an  immense  number  of  sermons, 
averaging  nearly  two  a  week  for  thirty-six  years,  his 
visits  to  every  member  of  his  congregation  were  fre 
quent,  and  his  knowledge  of  all  their  concerns  was  such 
as  to  enable  him  to  be  their  best  comforter  and  friend. 

Mr.  Bentley's  cabinet  of  Natural  History  was  large, 
until  the  establishment  of  the  Salem  Museum,  in  which 
he  took  an  active  part,  induced  him  to  deposite  his  col 
lection  where  it  would  be  more  useful.  As  many  of  his 
parishioners  were  ship-masters  and  sea-faring  men,  his 
opportunities  for  gaining  an  acquaintance  with  distant 
parts  of  the  world  were  numerous  and  well  improved ; 
and  the  Summaries  of  the  Register  and  the  mercantile 
portion  of  Walsh's  arithmetic,  which  he  contributed 
gratuitously,  show  how  he  used  his  knowledge.  Few 
scholars  wrote  so  rapidly  and  so  well  as  Mr.  Bentley. 
We  refer  to  his  penmanship,  of  which  his  manuscripts 
in  Hebrew,  Greek>  and  Arabic,  as  well  as  in  the  com 
mon  characters,  are  beautiful  specimens  of  chirography. 


REV.    WILLIAM    BENTLEY.  315 

The  mass  of  useful  knowledge,  thus  collected,  he  poured 
out  liherally  in  his  Summaries,  and  in  conversation, 
\vhich  he  loved,  and  in  which  he  particularly  excelled. 
The  study  of  so  many  languages  evidently  had  an  unfa 
vorable  influence  upon  his  style  of  writing  his  vernacu 
lar,  which,  in  his  latter  days,  was  sometimes  obscure, 
and  marred  by  the  use  of  words,  etymologically  correct, 
but  not  conformable  to  popular  usage. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Bentley  was  strictly  a  republican,  but 
his  writings  were  not  of  the  stamp  to  give  them  currency 
with  the  federal  party.  As  the  technical  republican 
was  not  the  most  powerful  party  in  the  state  of  Massa 
chusetts,  however  it  may  have  been  in  the  nation,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  his  attainments  and  talents  were 
treated  with  less  regard  than  if  he  had  belonged  to  the 
other  party.  Educated  at  Harvard,  a  tutor  in  that 
college  for  several  years,  unequaled  as  a  biblical  critic 
and  a  linguist,  if  there  was  any  honor  in  an  academical 
degree,  he  was,  undoubtedly,  entitled  to  it ;  but  while 
degrees  were  liberally  bestowed  on  men,  who  had  not  a 
tithe  of  his  merits  as  a  scholar,  his  claims  were  passed 
by  and  repudiated  till  there  was  no  grace  in  conferring 
the  honor.  In  August,  1819,  the  degree  of  D.  D.  was 
conferred  upon  him  by  the  corporation  of  Harvard ;  but, 
if  the  formality  of  acceptance  was  necessary  to  constitute 
him  a  Doctor  of  Divinity,  he  was  never  one  of  that  class 
by  virtue  of  a  sheet  of  parchment.  It  has  been  said 
that,  some  years  before,  those  who  opposed  him  on  the 
ground  of  religious  sentiment,  offered  to  confer  on  him 
the  degree  of  LL.  D.  (to  which,  probably,  he  had  as 
fair  a  claim  as  many,  who  receive  it,)  but  that  one  or 
two  of  his  friends  in  the  corporation  objected  to  this  as 


346  SALEM    REGISTER. 

insulting  to  his  clerical  character,  and,  of  course,  the 
matter  was  dropped.  His  will  was  made  a  month  or 
two  before  the  doctorate  in  divinity  was  conferred,  but 
the  tardy  honor  did  not  induce  him  to  alter  it,  and  his 
library  which  was  his  chief  wealth,  was  scattered  among 
other  institutions.  To  the  last,  however,  he  cherished  a 
deep  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  his  alma  mater,  as  his 
Diary  fully  proves ;  and  no  one,  it  is  presumed,  ever 
heard  him  express  disappointment  or  regret  at  the  neg 
lect,  which  was  but  too  apparent  to  every  one  else. 

In  his  editorial  capacity,  Mr.  Bentley  was  always  re 
spectful,  though  firm.  No  charge  to  the  contrary  was 
ever  brought  against  him  ;  and  in  an  attempt  to  "  draw 
him  in,"  when  Carleton  was  indicted  for  publishing  a 
libel  on  Timothy  Pickering,  his  political  opponents  were 
disappointed.  He  was  a  true  patriot.  He  loved  his 
country  and  her  institutions,  and  never  hesitated  to  say 
so.  He  sought  no  distinction  ;  and  though  honored  with 
the  personal  regard  of  more  than  one  President,  nothing 
could  induce  him  to  ask  any  favor  for  himself.  When, 
in  1805,  Mr.  Jefferson  invited  him  to  take  charge  of 
what  he  intended  should  become  a  national  college  in 
Virginia,  Mr.  Bentley  promptly  declined,  remarking  to 
his  friends,  that  his  people  were  his  wife,  and  as  he 
could  not  take  them  to  Washington,  he  would  never 
consent  to  a  divorce.  As  an  instance  of  his  patriotism, 
it  is  related  that  when  the  Constitution  frigate  was  driven 
into  Marblehead  by  three  British  ships,  and  fears  were 
entertained  that  she  might  be  captured,  he  was  perform 
ing  his  ordinary  service  in  the  pulpit.  Some  one  in 
formed  him  of  the  circumstance,  and  he  instantly  stopped 
the  services,  announced  the  intelligence  to  the  congrega- 


REV.    WILLIAM    BENTLEY.  347 

tion,  and,  remarking  that  they  could  worship  God  at  all 
times,  but  could  save  the  Constitution  only  by  immediate 
action,  be  left  the  pulpit,  hurried  to  the  fort  at  Marble- 
head,  reported  himself  to  the  commander,  and  requested 
to  be  placed  where  he  could  be  of  service.  He  was 
ordered  to  stand  by  one  of  the  guns.  The  danger  was 
soon  over,  and  returning  to  Salem  in  time  for  the  after 
noon  service,  he  delivered  an  extempore  sermon  on 
patriotism,  from  the  text,  "  There  go  the  ships  ! " 

In  stature,  Mr.  Bentley  was  below  the  middle  size ; 
he  was  even   short,  and  appeared  the  more  so,  because 
he  was  always  fat.     At  the  age  of  fifty-two,  he  weighed 
two  hundred  and  fourteen  pounds,  though  hardly  above 
five  feet  in  height.     In   his  personal  habits,  he  would 
have  done  credit  to  the  best  modern  teachers  of  physi 
ology.     Personal  cleanliness  was  a  virtue  with  him,  and 
no  day  passed  without  much  exercise  in  walking,  which 
he   believed  to  be  the  best  exercise  for  a  scholar.     All 
his  writing  was  done  while  he  was  in  a  standing  posture. 
He  never  used  a  chair  in  his  study  ;  but  he  had  one 
low  bench,  on  which  he  sat,  if  he  sat  at  all.     Temper 
ance  was  another  of   his  virtues.     He  always   retired 
early,  and  usually  studied  or  wrote  an  hour  or  two  before 
sunrise.     His  food  was  always  simple,  and  very  uniform 
at  home,  for  he  had  been  admonished,  many  years  before 
his  death,  that  there  was  some  organic  trouble  at  the 
heart.    This,  no  doubt,  caused  his  death.     Having  been 
to  see  a  parishioner,  who  had  just  returned  from  a  long 
voyage,  and  staying  after  his  hour  of  retiring  to  rest,  he 
hurried  home.     The  night  was  excessively  cold  ;  and, 
when  he  entered  the  room,  he  stood  with  his  back  to 
the  fire,  apologizing  to  his  landlady  for  staying  out  so 


348  SALEM    REGISTER. 

late,  and  fell  upon  the  floor,  and  died  instantly.  It  was 
supposed  that  the  transition  from  the  cold  atmosphere  to 
a  warm  fire  so  increased  the  flow  of  blood  as  to  produce 
suffocation. 

No  man,  probably,  was  better  prepared  to  die.  A  life 
of  the  most  unbounded  charity,  of  purity,  innocence,  and 
simplicity,  and  of  active  usefulness,  is  no  mean  prepara 
tion  for  death ;  but,  besides  being  armed  at  all  points, 
which  have  reference  to  the  world  to  come,  Mr.  Bentley 
had  settled  up  with  the  present  world.  The  sums  he 
gave  away,  for  useful  and  benevolent  objects,  would 
startle  one,  who  knew  how  limited  his  salary  was  and 
how  much  of  it,  due  from  poor  parishioners,  was  never 
paid.  It  is  a  singular  fact  that,  at  his  death,  he  did 
not  owe  a  cent,  and  nothing  was  due  to  him  that  he 
would  ever  have  attempted  to  collect.  When  his  execu 
tor  was  called  on,  by  the  probate  court,  for  his  accounts, 
there  were  no  materials  from  which  to  make  one,  —  the 
legacies  having  been  duly  delivered,  and  the  executor 
being  the  residuary  legatee.  In  his  will,  Mr.  Bentley 
requested  his  executor  to  burn  all  his  manuscripts ;  but 
he  has,  prudently,  kept  them,  until  most  of  those  per 
sons,  who  were  noticed  in  them,  especially  in  the  Diary, 
have  passed  away,  and  a  mass  of  facts  has  been  pre 
served  for  future  antiquaries. 

Mr.  Bentley  published  but  little  beyond  what  he 
wrote  for  the  Salem  newspapers.  His  first  publication 
was  a  small  Hymn  Book  for  the  use  of  his  society,  in 
1789,  which  passed  through  two  or  three  editions. 
Next  was  his  History  of  Salem,  in  the  first  series  of  the 
Historical  Collections,  —  never  completed.  Two  or  three 
Masonic  Addresses,  and  seven  or  eight  Sermons,  —  one 


i 


REV.    WILLIAM    BENTLEY.  349 

of  which  was  the  election  sermon  when  Governor  Sulli 
van  was  first  chosen  —  complete  the  catalogue. 

Mr.  Bentley  rode  only  on  short  excursions  in  his 
neighborhood.  He  was  never  in  Rhode-Island,  Con 
necticut,  or  Vermont ;  in  Maine  only  once  ;  in  New- 
Hampshire  but  twice ;  and  was  never  out  of  New-Eng 
land.  Yet  his  knowledge  of  every  part  of  the  world 
was  more  exact  than  some  of  the  greatest  travelers  ever 
acquire.  He  loved  home  ;  and  was  so  much  attached 
to  it  when  it  had  become  familiar,  that  he  changed  his 
boarding-place  only  once  during  his  whole  ministry. 

His  antiquarian  knowledge  surpassed  that  of  any  other 
man  in  New-England.  The  notices  of  men  and  events, 
scattered  throughout  his  Diary  from  1783  to  1819, 
would  form  several  volumes.  His  notices  of  books,  of 
subjects  in  Natural  History,  and  his  statistical  tables,  are 
equally  copious  and  extensive. 

There  are  still  living, —  1850,  —  one  brother  and  one 
sister  of  Mr.  Bentley,  at  the  ages  of  seventy-three  and 
seventy-seven  years.  His  father  died  at  the  age  of 
ninety-five,  and  his  grandfather  at  eighty-four.  The 
latter  was  born  in  England,  and  was  brought  to  this 
country,  when  a  boy,  by  his  father,  who  was  an  officer 
in  the  expedition  against  Quebec,  and  perished  there, 
leaving  his  child  an  orphan  in  Boston.  The  father  and 
grandfather  were  both  mechanics. 

The  funeral  of  Mr.  Bentley  took  place  in  Salem, 
January  3,  18*20.  The  devotional  services  were  con 
ducted  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Kirkland  and  Prince,  and 
a  sermon  was  preached  by  Professor  Everett.  The 
funeral  procession  was  long,  composed  of  the  members 
of  the  church  and  society,  relatives,  municipal  and  public 
30 


350  SALEM    REGISTER. 

characters,  and  a  large  column  of  Free  .  Masons.  Ma 
sonic  solemnities  were  performed  at  the  tomb  by  the 
officers  of  Essex  Lodge,  of  which  he  was  a  member. 

The  obituary  notices  of  Dr.  Bentley  were  numerous  ; 
and  those  newspapers,  which  had  been  violent  in  their 
remarks  on  his  career  as  a  politician,  were  courteous  and 
respectful  to  his  memory.  The  Salem  Gazette,  which 
had  probably  treated  him  with  more  indignity  than  any 
other  paper,  after  mentioning  his  death,  said,  —  "As  a 
divine  he  was  distinguished  for  extensive  erudition  ;  as  a 
preacher,  he  was  eloquent  and  brilliant.  His  activity 
and  industry  in  literary  pursuits  never  diverted  his  atten 
tion  from  his  parochial  duties;  he  was  the  friend,  coun 
selor  and  guide  of  his  parishioners,  and  always  enjoyed 
their  warmest  attachment  and  affection.  To  the  poor 
and  unfortunate  he  carried  not  empty  professions  of 
sympathy,  but  he  was  their  active  friend  and  comforter. 
He  daily  sought  the  abodes  of  misery,  poverty,  and  mis 
fortune,  and,  to  the  extent  of  his  pecuniary  resources, 
administered  to  their  relief  and  comfort.  His  influence, 
his  example,  and  his  most  active  exertions,  were  devoted 
to  the  alleviation  of  sorrow  and  suffering.  His  extensive 
and  various  attainments  in  literature  and  science,  and  his 
familiar  knowledge  of  most  of  the  ancient  and  modem 
languages,  have  given  him  merited  celebrity  among  the 
learned  of  this  country  and  of  Europe.  He  was  a  prin 
cipal  and  active  member  of  the  Historical  and  Antiqua 
rian  societies,  and  was  ever  an  enthusiastic  friend  of  our 
University  and  other  literary  establishments." 


APPENDIX  TO  VOLUME  II. 


Note  to  page  63. 

I  COULD  never  discover  the  origin  of  the  almost  deadly 
feud,  which  existed  between  Benjamin  Austin,  jun.  and 
Benjamin  Russell ;  and  it  may  be  questioned  whether 
any  one  can  refer  to  any  specific  act  or  word,  as  the 
cause  of  it.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  the  news 
paper  squibs  which  would  now  be  considered  harmless, 
or  too  contemptible  to  excite  serious  anger  or  lasting 
animosity,  should  have  kindled  such  furious  and  impla 
cable  hatred.  Mr.  Austin  began  to  write  under  the 
signature  of  "  Honestus,"  in  March,  1786, —  about  two 
years  after  Russell  began  to  publish  the  Centinel  ;  and 
not  long  after  he  is  alluded  to  in  the  Centinel  by  the 
nick-name  of  Honee,  an  epithet  which  grew  into  com 
mon  use,  insomuch  that  many  people  supposed  that  to 
be  the  real  name  of  the  man.  Whether  this  abbrevia 
tion  of  his  signature,  which  he  had  adopted,  was  first 
suggested  by  Russell,  is  not,  and  probably  never  will  be 
known.  If  it  were  so,  —  and  if  the  continued  repeti 
tion  of  it  in  the  Centinel,  and  afterwards  in  other  papers 
that  were  opposed  to  the  Chronicle  in  politics,  fixed  it 
upon  the  individual,  personally,  —  it  seems  hardly  cred 
ible,  that  the  reproach,  —  if  it  were  a  reproach, — 
should  have  made  a  wound  so  deep  as  to  lead  to  the 
scene  at  the  town-meeting  in  Fanueil  Hall.  Before  that 
occurrence,  there  is  nothing  in  either  of  the  papers,  — 
that,  at  the  present  day,  would  be  thought  of  conse 
quence  enough  to  prevent  a  recognition  of  courtesy  on  a 
public  occasion  like  that ;  —  certainly  not  any  thing  suffi 
cient  to  warrant  so  harsh  and  rude  a  remark  as  that  made 


352  APPENDIX. 

by  Austin,  in  presence  of  their  assembled  fellow-citizens. 
Political  hostility  had  not  then  risen  to  its  burning  fever ; 
and  on  some  points,  the  two  combatant  individuals  had 
acted  not  only  in  perfect  unison,  but  rather  seemed  to 
emulate  each  other  to  produce  certain  effects.  Person 
alities,  more  disgusting,  and  quite  as  irritating  in  charac 
ter  and  purpose,  are  to  be  seen  almost  every  day  in  the 
leading  political  papers.  I  think  there  must  have  been 
some  occurrence,  the  nature  and  history  of  which  are 
lost  in  obscurity,  to  open  such  a  fountain  of  bitter 
waters.  The  quarrels  of  editors  would  form  a  curious 
and  not  worthless  volume. 

After  the  account  of  the  trial,  which  is  given  in  the 
text,  appeared  in  the  Apollo,  Russell  was  called  upon 
by  numerous  friends,  —  probably  many  who  had  not 
seen  that  report,  —  to  publish  a  statement,  which  one  of 
his  friends  had  prepared  for  the  Centinel.  He  consented 
to  the  publication,  although,  at  first,  being  a  party  con 
cerned,  he  resolved  to  be  silent.  His  first  allusion  to 
the  affair  is  this  :  — 

It  was  not  the  intention  of  the  editor  to  admit  any  remarks  or  strict 
ures  on  the  litigation  between  him  and  Mr.  A ,  into  the  Centinel ; 

because  he  supposed  his  antagonist  so  completely  mortified,  that  any 
observations  thereon  would  appear  like  unmanly  exultation  —  and  he 
had  reason  to  expect  silence  on  the  part  of  that  antagonist.  He  has, 
however,  been  disappointed  in  the  latter  particular ;  and  recognizing  as 

he  does,  the  scurrility  of  A in  the  Chronicle,  he  is  necessitated  to 

meet  him  in  a  field  of  scribbling  controversy.  If  he  occupies  any  por 
tion  of  the  public  attention,  which  might  have  been  directed  to  a  more 
worthy  object,  his  apology  must  be  received,  inasmuch  as  he  is  not  a 
volunteer  in  the  service. 

In  the  same  paper,  a  correspondent  hinted  that,  if  any 
one  should  vote  for  the  Chronicle  candidate  for  senator 
(meaning  Austin)  on  the  first  of  April,  he  would  richly 
merit  "  the  compliment  of  the  day."  Russell,  in  a  sub 
sequent  paper,  said,  —  "  The  senatorial  demagogue  has 
long  held  the  copy-right  of  scurrility  and  abuse.  To 
reply  to  his  dirt,  in  kind,  would  be  an  invasion  of  that 
right,  and  entitle  him  to  another  action  of  damage. 
20s."  This  appears  to  be  the  last  reference  to  the  mat 
ter,  in  the  Centinel. 


INDEX  TO  VOL.  II. 


Abbott,  Samuel  L.  115. 
Adams  cfe  Hudson,  172. 
Adams  &  Larkin,  241. 
Adams  and  Liberty,  106. 
Adams,  John,  59,  75,  83,  125,  138. 
Adams,  J.  Q.  98,  99. 
Adams,  Joseph  T.  99. 
Adams,  Samuel,  12,  65,  241,  243. 
Advertiser,  Boston  Daily,  294. 
Air  Balloon,  35. 
Algerine  Captive,  209. 
Alliterative  address,  205. 
Alps,  summit  of.  163. 
All 's  well,  67. 
Alternatives,  133. 
American  Apollo,  147-153. 
American  Eagle,  120. 
American  Recorder,  135. 
Ames,  Fisher,  164. 
Andre,  Major,  9. 
Andrews,  Ferdinand,  136. 
Anti-federalism,  Genius  of,  54. 
Arm  or  starve,  69. 
Austin,  Benjamin,  jun.,  60,  241. 

Bacon,  John,  77. 

Balloons,  35,  37. 

Barker,  Francis,  323. 

Barrett,  William,  326. 

Bamiel,  Abbe,  158. 

Bartlett,  Dr.  J.  159. 

Beals  &  Homer,  260. 

Beals,  William,  259,  261. 

Belknap  &  Young,  147. 

Belknap,  Rev.  Jeremy,  2,  147. 

Belknap,  Joseph,  147. 

Bemley,  Rev.  William,  121,  125,  333, 

341-351. 
Beri  Hesdin,  328. 
Bigelow,  Horatio,  274. 
Bigelow,  Timothy,  7. 
Biglow  &  Gushing,  276. 
Biglow,  William,  227,  268,  270,  276  - 

280. 

Black  cockade,  73. 
Blake,  Henry  I.  169. 


Boston  Daily  Advertiser,  294. 
Boston  Gazette,  251. 
Boston  Price-Current,  251. 
Bowdoin,  James,  30,  31. 
I  Bradford,  Alden,  260,  265. 
Brattle-street  church,  28. 
British  Treatv,  66. 
Bumper  of  Wine,  284. 
Burk,  John,  294-300. 
Burr,  Aaron,  83. 

Carleton,  William,  120, 126,  333-336 
Carlisle,  David,  174. 
Carter,  Master,  3. 
Caustic,  Christopher,  219. 
Centinel,  Massachusetts,  1-57. 
Columbian,  58-116. 


Chapman,  John,  340. 
Charles  River  bridge,  30. 
Chatterbox,  Charles,  227-234. 
Cheerful  Parson,  233. 
Cheever,  Ezekiel,  2. 
Cincinnati,  12,  20. 
Classology,  282. 
Clinton,  Dewilt,  92. 
Clinton,  George,  138. 
Cobbett,  William,  81. 
Coleman,  William,  319. 
Colon  and  Spondee,  177, 179, 203,226. 
Columbian  Centinel,  58-117. 
Common  Sense  in  Dishabille,  179. 
Connecticut,  46,  47. 
Conscious  Guilt,  150. 
Conspiracy,  proofs  of,  15S. 
Constitution,  debates  on,  49. 
Constitutional  Telegraphe,  308-314. 
Contrast,  150. 
Cooper,  William,  240. 
Copp,  Jonathan  S.  310. 
Conventions,  state,  44,  49. 
Convivial  Song,  207. 
Convention,  Worcester,  113. 
Country  Booby,  30. 
Country  Minister,  30. 
Crowninshield,  Capt.  B.  127. 
Crowuiushield,  Jacob,  334. 


354 


INDEX. 


Gushing,  Caleb,  136. 

Cushing,  Thomas  C.  118,  126,  134. 

Cutler,  James,  252,  255. 

Dabney  &  Gushing,  118. 

Dabney,  John,  118. 

Delaware,  45. 

Democracy  unveiled,  219. 

Democrat,  316. 

Denio,  John,  324. 

Dennie,  Joseph,  175-190;  195-202; 

226. 

Dexter,  Samuel,  233. 
Dexter,  Timothy,  331. 
Dickens,  Asbury,  195. 
Dickman,  Thomas,  318,  324. 
Duane,  William,  131. 
Dunlap,  Andrew,  341. 
Dunham,  John  M.  314. 
Dutton,  Warren,  160,  164. 

Ebeling,  Professor,  342. 

Edes,  Benjamin,  241. 

Editors,  Feast  of,  289. 

Elect,  Lady,  36. 

Elliott,  James,  319. 

Elliott,  Samuel,  322. 

Ellsworth,  Oliver,  45. 

Era  of  Good  Feelings,  96,  97,  99. 

Elheridge,  Samuel,  154. 

Everett,  David,  179,  265. 

Fanueil  Hall,  351. 
Farmer's  Museum,  174-220. 
Farmer,  New-England,  220. 
Fast,  National,  70. 
Feast  of  Editors,  289. 
Federal  Edifice,  48. 
Federal  Galaxy,  322- 
Federal  Gazette,  301-307. 
Federal  Orrery,  221  -250. 
Federal  Ship,  53. 

Federal-street  Meeting-house,  49.  ^ 
Federal  Pillars,  47. 
Felch,  Cheever,  193,  195. 
Female  Grammarian,  107. 
Fessenden,  Thomas  G.  179,  213-220. 
Fessenden,  Rev.  William,  175. 
Fiery  Devil,  116. 
Foote,  Caleb,  136. 
Forbes,  G.  V.  H.  171. 
Franklin,  Benjamin,  8. 
-—Freeman,  Rev.  James,  44,  342. 
French  Republic,  239. 
Freneau,  Philip,  137. 

Gallatin,  Albert,  94,  133. 
Gardiner,  Rev.  J.  S.  J.  224. 
Gardner,  Simon,  225.  259. 


Gazette,  Boston,  251-266. 

Federal,  301-307. 

Greenfield,  318-321. 

Lay  Preacher's,  188. 

Literary,  191. 

National,  137-146. 

Political,  326. 

Salem,  120  - 136. 


Gazetteer,  Republican,  314. 
Georgia,  46,  47. 
Gerry,  Elbridge,  91. 
Gerrymander,  91. 
Giflb'rd,  William,  314. 
Gilbert,  Samuel,  255. 
Greene,  Chailes  G.  262. 
Green  Dragon  Tavern,  45,  326. 
Greenfield  Gazette,  318-321. 

Hale.  Nathan,  100. 

Hamilton,  Alexander,  59,  137,  139. 

Hancock,  Governor,  30,  45,  56,  151. 

Hartford  Convention,  99. 

Hartford  Co u rant,  162. 

Hazlett,  Rev.  William,  35. 

Heathen  Mythology,  280. 

Herculean  Task,  131. 

Hermit,  179. 

Hewes,  Shubael,  241. 

Hobbies,  new,  168. 

Holley,  O.  L.  275. 

Homer  and  Palmer,  264. 

Homer,  James  L.  258. 

Hudson,  Thomas,  99. 

Illuminati,  158. 
Impartial  Register,  333. 
Independence,  declaration  of,  5. 
Indian  burying  ground,  145. 
Intelligencer,  Marine,  251. 
Invocation  to  Memory,  320. 

Jacobiniad,  223. 

Jacobin's  Prayer,  83. 

Jacobin's  Psalm,  71. 

Jarvis,  Charles,  238,  241. 

Jam's,  Samuel,  27,  239. 

Jefierson,  Thomas,   83,  89,  94,  129, 

137,  166. 

Journal,  N.  H.  and  Vt.  178. 
Junior  Classology,  281. 
Jutau,  John,  242. 

Kingman,  Eliab,  172. 
Knapp,  Samuel  L.  258,  265. 
Kuhn,  Jacob,  242. 
Kuhn,  John,  242. 

Law,  56. 

Lathrop,  John,  jun.  264. 


INDEX. 


355 


Lay  Preacher,   175,   177,   181,   184,    Paine,  Robert  Treat,  247. 


188,  191. 

Lay  Preacher's  Gazette,  188. 
ijLeland,  Elder  John,  166. 
Lillie,  John  S.  310-315. 
Literary  Gazette,  191. 
Louis  Philippe,  65. 
Love  Song,  215. 

Madison,  James,  96. 
Maiden,  church  of,  28. 
Mammoth  Cheese,  167. 
March,  Angier,  329,  330. 
Murtin,  Alexander,  295,  300. 
Mason,  Thomas,  271. 
Massachusetts  Centinel,  1  -  57. 
Massachusetts  Mercury,  154-160. 
Mechanic's  Song,  51. 
Meddler,  179. 

Memory,  invocation  to   320. 
Menander,  148,  225. 
Merchants  and  Mechanics,  21. 
Mercury,  Massachusetts,  154. 
Messenger,  Village,  276. 
Minns,  Thomas.  156,  172. 
Mobs  in  Boston,  64. 
Monumental  Inscription,  85. 
Morse,  Rev.  Dr.  158.   «*. 
Morton,  Mrs.  148,  224. 
Morton,  Perez,  242. 
Mozard,  Consul,  253. 
Munroe,  President,  95. 
Murray,  Rev.  John,  245. 
Museum,  Farmer's,  175-220. 

Natick,  276,  278. 
National  Gazette,  137-146. 
Newburyport  Herald,  330. 
Newconib,  Richard  E.  322. 

,  160-173. 
New- Hampshire 

nal,  174. 

Newhall,  David,  192. 
Newspaper,  description  of,  16,  35 
New- Year's  Address,  288. 
Nineteenth  of  April,  3. 
North-Carolina,  48. 
Northey,  Mr.  119. 
Nymph,  British  frigate,  105. 


Palladium,  N.  E.  160. 

Parker,  SamuelS.  308-311. 

Pasquin,  Anthony,  316. 

Peter  Pencil,  179. 

Peter  Periwinkle,  217. 

Peter  Porcupine,  80. 

Peter  Quince,  212,  326. 

Philenia,  148.  225. 

Pickering,  Timothy,  333. 

Pindar,  Jonathan,  "138-140. 

Polar  Star,  294-300. 

Political  Creed,  143. 

Political  Focus,  274. 

Political  Gazette,  326. 

Port  Folio,  195 

Pool,  Haven,  336. 

Prayer,  Jacobin's,  83. 

Predictions  verified,  92. 

Prentiss,  Rev,  Caleb,  273. 

Prentiss,  Charles,  267-275. 

Prentiss,  John,  193,  274. 

Prescott,  Col.  4. 

Protest  of  Episcopal  clergymen,  44. 

Putnam,  General,  4,  5,  10. 

-Quakers,  Shakinsr,  36. 
Quince,  Peter,  212,  326. 

Raising  Song,  50. 

Reanimation,  226. 

Rebel  Eclogue,  41. 

Receipt  to  make  a  Magazine,  287. 

Recorder,  American,  135. 

Refugees,  25. 

Republican  Gazetteer,  314. 

Republican  Journal,  13. 

Riots  in  Boston,  237. 

Robinson,  Professor,  158. 

New-England  Palladium,  160-  173.     i  Roundelay,  Roger,  235. 
New-Hampshire  and  Vermont  Jour-  !  Rural  Repository,  267 -27d. 

Rural  Wanderer,  179. 

llu-st-ll,  Benjamin,  1  -  117  -  birth 
and  education,  2  —  absence  from 
Boston,  3— goes  to  Worcester  as 
an  apprentice,  5  —  incidents  of  Ap 
prenticeship,  6-9  —joins the  arm y, 
9  —  return  to  Worcester,  9 — jour 
ney  to  New- York,  10— interview 
with  General  Putnam,  10  — inci 
dents  at  New-York,  11  —  partner 
ship  with  Warden,  15— atii.ir  with 
the  Sans  Souci,  26  —  sole  editor  of 
the  Centinel,  39  — trial  for  assault 
on  B.  Austin,  jun.  60  —  dispiiiu 
with  John  Bacon,  77  —  recom 
mends  the  black  cockade,  74  —  dis- 
aflects  some  federal  friends,  97  — 
disposes  of  the  Centinel,  99  —  com- 


Ode  on  War,  107. 
Olio,  286. 

Omnium  Gatherum,  227. 
Orrery,  Federal,  221 -250. 

Palfray,  Charles  W.  338. 
Palfray,  Warwick,  jun.  338-340. 
Paine,  Thomas,  129. 
Paine, Thomas,  (R.  T.)  106,220-264, 


356 


INDEX. 


plimentary  dinner,  100  —  instance  |  Suicide,  37 

f'M  +  •* m 4         -..*-.:*      o  _'  _     *~*\ 


of  private  generosity,  104  —  visit 
to  the  Nymph,  frigate,  105  —  pub 
lic  offices,  111  —  letter  concerning 


Worcester  convention,  113—  natu^jrfTaylor.  Rev.  John,  322. 


ral  decay,  115 — instance  of  reten 
tive  memory,  116— death,  117. 

Russell,  John,  251-258,  266. 

Russell,  Joseph  N.  251,  266. 

Russell.  Rev.  John,  2. 

Russelli  William,  105. 

Salern  Gazette,  120-134. 

Salem  Mercury,  lia 

Salem  Register,  333. 

Sans  Souci,  26,  28. 

Schoolmaster,  occupations  of,  235. 

Selfridge,  T.  O.  264. 

Shays,  Daniel,  40,  43. 

Sherburne,  History  of,  278. 

Simon  Spunkey,  179,  214. 

Smead,  Benjamin,  322. 

Song,  40,  41,  206,  212  — for  Jacobin 
Club,  63  — of  Liberty  and  Equali 
ty,  239. 

Soliloquy  in  Servitude,  150. 

South-Carolina,  46. 

Spondee's  Mistresses,  206. 

Sprague,  Joseph  E.  341. 

Stamp  Act,  33,  34. 

Stanhope,  Captain.  37. 

Story,  Isaac,  179,  212,  326. 

Story.  Joseph,  127.  336,  341, 

Summary,  121,  122. 


Suinner,  Charles  P.  270. 
Talleyrand,  65. 


Telegraphe,  Constitutional,  308  -  315 

Terrible  Tractoration,  219. 

Thacher,  Dr.  James,  9. 

Timelier,  Rev.  Peter,  28,  30. 

Thomas  &  Carlisle,  174. 

Thomas  &  Thomas,  192. 

Thomas,  Alexander,  181,  191,  193. 

Thomas,  Isaiah,  174. 

Titles,  57. 

Traveler  returned,  243  —  card  by  the 

author  of,  244. 
Tyler,  Royal,  177,  197,  199,  202,  209, 

226. 

Udang,  Captain,  104. 

United  States  Constitution,  44-51: 

Updike  Underbill,  209. 

Variety  Store,  204. 
Varnum,  Joseph  B.  233. 
Village  Messenger,  276. 

Warden  &  Russell,  15-39. 
Warden,  William,  death  of,  39. 
Washington,  General  George,  59,  6S, 

74,  81,  82,  104,  119,  125,  137,  295. 
Watermelon  Frolics,  237. 
Wayne,  Caleb  P.  301  -  307.      > 
Williams,  John,  314. 


NOTE.    On  page  270,  sixteenth  line,  by  an  unfortunate  blunder,  the  word  quia 
stands, m  the  place  of  a  much  better  one,  —  quill. 


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